The Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, on
Wednesday re-arraigned a
Rashidi Ladoja before a
Federal High Court, Lagos,
over N4.7 billion alleged
money laundering.
Wednesday’s arraignment
occurs eight years after the
former Oyo governor was
first charged.
Mr. Ladoja is charged
alongside his former aide,
Waheed Akanbi, on eight
counts bordering on the
alleged offence.
The duo pleaded not guilty to
the charges.
After their pleas, the
prosecutor, Oluwafemi
Olabisi, asked the court to fix
a date for commencement of
trial.
In response, defence counsel,
Bolaji Onilenla and Adeyinka
Olumide-Fusika, informed
the court of their clients’ bail
applications.
Mr. Onilenla, representing
Mr. Ladoja, urged the court
to allow his client continue
on the bail conditions earlier
granted him in 2008 by
Justice A.R. Mohammed.
He submitted that the first
accused had kept good faith
with the terms and conditions
of the bail and that there was
no single incidence of
default.
He assured the court that his client will
“behave himself’’ and make himself
available for trial.
According to Mr. Onilenla, in case the
court is not inclined to allowing Ladoja
to continue with the previous bail, then
the court should grant bail on liberal
terms.
The counsel to the other accused,
Olumide-Fusika, also aligned himself
with the submissions of Onilenla.
The prosecutor objected to the bail
application and urged the court to refuse
the same on the grounds that the accused
had frustrated trial for years through
their appeals challenging the competence
of the charges.
Ruling, Justice Mohammed Idris held
that the court could not deny the accused
bail on account of exercise of their
constitutional rights of appeal, resulting
in the delay of the case.
The court added that there was no
evidence that the accused breached the
terms of the bail granted them eight
years ago.
The court, therefore, allowed the accused
to continue with the bail as granted by
Justice A.R. Mohammed eight years ago.
Mr. Idris held: “It is not out of place for
this court to revalidate the order of A.R.
Mohammed.”
He adjourned the case to February 14,
15 and 16, 2017 for commencement of
trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that
Mr. Ladoja was granted bail on
September 5, 2008, in the sum of N100
million with two sureties in like sum.
In the charge marked FHC/L/336C/08,
the EFCC alleged that the duo conspired
to convert properties and resources
derived from an illegal act, with the
intention of concealing their illicit
origin.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that
Mr. Ladoja used N42 million out of the
proceeds to purchase an Armoured Land
Cruiser Jeep, and remitted about
£600,000 to one Bimpe Ladoja in
London.
The offences are said to have
contravened the provisions of sections
14 (a) and 17 of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act, 2004.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/217946-8-years-ladojas-n4-7-billion-money-laundering-trial-starts-afresh.html

Now the trial begins