Efcc Files Charges Against Bayelsa Officials
Below is the copy of the charges filed.
Sources indicate that the officials will be arrainged tomorrow.
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IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT
HOLDEN AT ABUJA
CHARGE NO.:FHC/ABJ/CS/55/2010
BETWEEN:
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ……………… COMPLAINANT
AND
1. FRANCIS OKOKURO
2. ABBOT T. CLINTON …………… ACCUSED PERSONS
3. IKOBHO ANTHONY HOWELLS
CHARGE
COUNT 1:
That you, Francis Okokuro, Abbot T. Clinton, Ikobho Anthony Howells and Dr. Charles Sylva Osuala (now at large) sometime between October, 2009 and February, 2010, at various places in Nigeria, including Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did conspire to commit a crime to wit: conversion of properties and resources amounting to N2,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira) belonging to Bayelsa State Government and derived from an illegal act, with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the said amount and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act), 2004 and punishable under Section 14(1) of the same Act.
COUNT 2:
That you, Francis Okokuro, Abbot T. Clinton, Ikobho Anthony Howells and Dr. Charles Sylva Osuala (now at large) on or about the 22nd of January, 2010, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, converted the sum of N380,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Eighty Million Naira), property of the Bayelsa State Government, through the account of one Habibu Sani Maigidia, a Bureau De Change Operator with Account No. 221433478108, in Fin Bank, Plc, which sum you knew represented the proceeds of an illegal act with the aim of concealing the nature of the proceeds of the said illegal act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.
COUNT 3:
That you, Francis Okokuro, Abbot T. Clinton, Ikobho Anthony Howells and Dr. Charles Sylva Osuala (now at large) on or about the 5th of February, 2010, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, converted the sum of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira), property of the Bayelsa State Government, through the account of one Enson Benmer Limited with Account No. 6152030001946, in First Bank, Plc, which sum you knew represented the proceeds of an illegal act with the aim of concealing the nature of the proceeds of the said illegal act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.
COUNT 4:
That you, Francis Okokuro, Abbot T. Clinton, Ikobho Anthony Howells and Dr. Charles Sylva Osuala (now at large) on or about the 5th of February, 2010, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, converted the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira), property of the Bayelsa State Government, through the account of one John Daukoru with Account No. 04800250000418, in United Bank for Africa, Plc, which sum you knew represented the proceeds of an illegal act with the aim of concealing the nature of the proceeds of the said illegal act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.
COUNT 5:
That you, Francis Okokuro, Abbot T. Clinton, Ikobho Anthony Howells and Dr. Charles Sylva Osuala (now at large) sometime between October, 2009 and February, 2010, at various places in Nigeria, including Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did conspire to commit a crime to wit: inducing Union Bank, Plc, with the intent to defraud, to deliver to Bayelsa State Government the sum of N2,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira), under the false pretence of using the amount to augment salaries of the Bayelsa State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2004.
COUNT 6:
That you, Francis Okokuro, Abbot T. Clinton, Ikobho Anthony Howells and Dr. Charles Sylva Osuala (now at large) sometime between October, 2009 and February, 2010, at various places in Nigeria, including Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court induced Union Bank, Plc, with the intent to defraud, to grant an overdraft facility of the sum of N2,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira) to the Bayelsa State Government under the false pretence of using the amount to augment salaries of the Bayelsa State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2004 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.
Dated this…………………….day of…………………………………………2010
SYLVANUS TAHIR, ESQ.
(CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER)
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION
NO.2, IBRAHIM TAIWO STREET ,
ASO VILLA,
ABUJA.
PROOF OF EVIDENCE
1. Statements of Accused persons
2. Statements of witnesses
3. Relevant Bank documents
4. Relevant documents from Bayelsa State Government
Dated this…………………….day of…………………………………………2010
SYLVANUS TAHIR, ESQ.
(CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER)
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION
NO.2, IBRAHIM TAIWO STREET ,
ASO VILLA,
ABUJA.