Court remands Yakubu in Kuje prison, rules on bail application March 21
Former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu arraigned before a Federal High Court for money laundering and financial fraud in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: LUCY LADIDI ELUKPO
The Federal High Court Abuja yesterday ordered the remand of former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu, in Kuje prison and fixed March 21 for ruling on bail application.
He was arraigned on a six-count criminal charge bordering on money laundering and corruption.
Yakubu, who served as the NNPC chief executive in the last administration, was accused of receiving money without going through a financial institution and failing to declare same.
Yakubu was also accused of failing to declare the sum $9.7 million in his Assets Declaration Form, which he filed at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on August 18, 2015.
The EFCC also alleged that Yakubu transported the foreign currencies to his house in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State, with the intent to avoid a lawful transaction.
He was equally accused of receiving payment of £74, 000 without going through a financial institution as required by law during his tenure.
He however pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
After taking his plea, the prosecution counsel, Ben Ikani, asked the trial Judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed for a date to commence trial.
But counsel to the defendant, Ahmed Raji (SAN), applied to the court for the bail of his client on self recognition or in the most liberal terms.
Raji argued that Andrew Yakubu was in the United Kingdom on medical trip when EFCC’s invitation came to him and he hurriedly came down to Nigeria to honour the invitation after suspending the medical attention.
Raji equally asked the court for temporary release of Yakubu’s travel documents to enable him complete his treatment abroad.
He further argued that the defendant has no criminal records and has been co-operating with the EFCC since the commencement of investigation. As such, he held that the claim by the prosecution that he would not be available to face his trial was not tenable.
Opposing the bail application, the prosecution counsel urged the court to either refuse the defendant bail or in the alternative, impose stringent conditions that would enable the defendant attend his trial.
He added that the charges attract 10 years imprisonment or with fine.
Related
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
what an affront ! this guy pleading not guilty? even with the evidence thats very clear? what kind of country is this for God sakes? Nga needs re incarnation of buhari / idiagbon to sanitize the system or we see this country torn apart in another unprecedented civil war directly caused by corruption. The six geo political region are 6 countries in one and its time to dissolve nga bcos it seem like its too big for a black man to manage and too corrupt to survive. We are not yet ready for oyinbo kind of democracy, its not working for us, a military style of govt would have jailed all these mother f##kers long time ago, throw them in jail and billions of dollars would have been recoreverd with 6 months but it will now be judgement reservations, adjournments for eternity in these corruption cases
We will review and take appropriate action.