A
mild drama occurred at the
Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday 21 January, 2013 when one Abdulrasheed Ibrahim who had on January 17, pleaded
guilty to the money laundering charge preferred against him by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, made a dramatic volte face by changing his plea
from guilty to not guilty.
The accused who was arraigned on 17th January, 2013, before Justice Adamu
Bello on a one count charge of money laundering pleaded guilty to the charge
and Justice Bello subsequently adjourned to January 21 for sentencing.
At today’s sitting,
I. A. Azuamah, counsel to Abdulrasheeed Ibrahim told the court that he had
filed a motion on notice to change the plea from guilty to not guilty. However,
the prosecution counsel, Chioma Okongwu, consequently asked the court for time
to study the motion and respond accordingly.
Azuamah moved an oral application for bail on behalf of the
accused person. He told the court that the accused was granted administrative
bail by the EFCC and that the offence for which he was arraigned was bail able.
His application was opposed by EFCC counsel who said the administrative bail
had elapsed upon the accused arraignment.
However, Justice Bello granted bail to the accused in the sum of
N1 million (One Million Naira), one surety with evidence of a landed property
within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
The accused person is to remain in prison custody until he
perfects his bail terms. The case has been further adjourned to 23rd January,
2013for hearing on the motion on notice.
Ibrahim was arrested on Wednesday November 7, 2012 by operatives
of the Commission as he prepared to board a Dubai , United Arab Emirates bound
Ethiopian Airline. A total of $188,858 (one hundred and eighty eight thousand,
eight hundred and fifty eight United States Dollars) was found on him. He had
declared only the sum of forty five thousand USD ($45,000) but a search
revealed additional $143, 858.
No comments:
Post a Comment