N2.4bn arms scandal: EFCC arraigns Almond MD

The EFCC has arraigned another suspect in the N2.4bn arms deal – Mr Olugbenga Obadina the MD of Almond properties limited has been accused by the EFCC of receiving N2.4bn from a former National Security Adviser,Col. Sambo Dasuki – The defendant, Mr Obadina pleaded not guilty to the eight count charge  There has occurred a new twist in the raging arms scandal as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a new suspect. Managing Director, Almond properties limited, Olugbenga Obadina, was arraigned by the EFCC at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on an eight counts bordering on money laundering.  The commission said Obadina allegedly received over N2.4bn from a former National Security Adviser,Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), for electricity contracts that were never executed. He was arrraigned today, Friday, July 15. However, Obadina pleaded not guilty to all eight counts. The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Peters Aso, asked the court to keep Obadina in prison custody and also set things in motion for an accelerated hearing of the case.
Mr Peters also said that even though bail was at the discretion of the court, the proof of evidence accompanying the charges against Obadina, showed that he was not entitled to bail. “The defendant received N2.4bn out of which $2.6m has been taken abroad and his passport is still in his custody. And so, if granted bail, he is a flight risk because he will jet off to enjoy that money already abroad,” Aso said.  The prosecuting counsel also said that although they had recovered N70m from the defendant, Obadina so far, he had refused to cooperate, and was frustrating the investigation. Going a step further, he also asked the court to ignore the exhibits attached to the defendant’s bail application, saying they were public documents and only certified true copies would be accepted by the court. The defense counsel for Obadina, Chris Uche (SAN), notified the court that despite been granted administrative bail, the EFCC had kept his client in custody for over one month. Uche urged the court to grant his client bail, saying that the charge preferred against him was one in which bail could be granted. The defense counsel also noted that his client had demonstrated, through the exhibits he attached to his affidavit, that he would be available to attend his trial if granted bail, and therefore not a flight risk. He appealed that bail should be granted in liberal terms, adding that the N70m already recovered by the EFCC could be used as bond. The judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba weighed in on the matter, but made no decisions today. Dimgba said that the court could put in place measures that would ensure that the defendant was not a flight risk when granted bail. Dimgba also said that the court would put in place measures to ensure that he appeared for his trial. The judge then adjourned ruling on the bail application till July 18 and ordered the remand of the defendant in Kuje prison. Meanwhile, Retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has declared his readiness for trial over the alleged $15 billion arms deals facilitated by his office.