Chimaroke Nnamani
Four of the six companies standing trial
alongside a former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, accused
of N5bn money laundering, have pleaded guilty to amended counts in
relation to the offence.
The four companies –Rainbownet Nigeria
Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited, and
Renaissance University Teaching Hospital – pleaded guilty on Tuesday
following their re-arraignment on an amended 10-count.
The companies are being prosecuted
separately from Nnamani by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
to fast-track their trial.
The
move was to save their assets from being eroded, because the trial had
made little or no progress since 2007 when it commenced due to Nnamani’s
ill health.
Apart from the four companies arraigned
on Tuesday, others who were standing trial with Nnanami include his
erstwhile aide, Sunday Anyaogu, Hillgate Nigeria Limited and Mea Mater
Elizabeth High School.
In the amended 10-count levelled against
Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria
Limited, and Renaissance University, the four companies were accused of
failing to comply with a lawful enquiry by Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, who was
then the EFCC’s Director of Operations.
Lamorde, it was said, had ordered investigation into the complicity of the four companies in the alleged offences.
The companies had, however, allegedly
refused to release their cash books, fixed assets, various vouchers and
cheques to the EFCC operatives for investigation.
They were also accused of failure to give
the breakdown of their trade creditors and to show the names of their
creditors and amounts from between 2002 and 2006.
The offences according to the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Kelvin Uzozie, were punishable under section 38(2) of the EFCC Act, 2004.
Upon reading the 10-count to the four companies, their counsel, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), pleaded guilty on their behalf.
Following the guilty plea, Uzozie urged the court to adjourn the matter for review of facts of the offences.
Consequently, the presiding judge,
Justice Mohammed Yunusa, adjourned the matter till May 27, for review of
the facts of the case.
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