N2.8bn Fraud:

N2.8bn fraud: EFCC opposes NAMA director’s
wife’s overseas’ medical trip

Lagos - The EFCC has urged a Federal High
Court in Lagos to reject a request for medical
trip abroad by a staff of the Nigerian Airspace
Management Agency (NAMA) standing trial for
money laundering.
The wife of one the directors of NAMA, Joy
Adegorite, had pleaded with the court to allow
her travel overseas for medical attention.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
had on April 12 arraigned the Managing Director
of NAMA, Ibrahim Abdusalam, and six others
over alleged N2.8 billion fraud before Justice
Babs Kuewunmi.
They are facing a 21-count charge bordering on
conspiracy, fraud and money laundering.
The offences were alleged to have been
committed between August 2013 and January
2016.
The six others charged with Abdusalam are
Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara
Aliche, Joy Adegorite, Bola Akinribido and
Sesebor Abiodun.
Five companies -- Randville Investment Ltd,
Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd, Delosa Ltd,
Airsea Delivery Ltd, and Sea Schedule System
Ltd – were also charged with the defendants.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and
were admitted to bails.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday,
counsel to the fifth accused, (Adegorite), Mr
A.B. Onifade, informed the court of his
application, seeking the release of his client's
passport.
Onifade said Adegorite needed to travel to Dubai
for medical treatment.
According to him, the woman is suffering from
acute sinusitis, asthma, hypertension and heart
disease.
He said she had earlier scheduled a medical
appointment before she was arrested in April.
The EFCC counsel, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed,
however, opposed the application, describing it
as a ploy to frustrate the trial.
He told the court that there were indications that
the fifth defendant would jump bail and frustrate
trial if allowed to travel.
Mohammed urged the court to refuse the
application.
Justice Kuewunmi has fixed July 15 for ruling on
the application.
Others charges the accused are facing include
inducing NAMA to deliver part of the N2.8 billion
in several tranches to three companies -- Delosa
Ltd, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules
Systems Ltd.
The defendants were alleged to have collected
the money on the pretext that the money was
the cost of clearing some consignments
belonging to NAMA.
They were also accused of fraudulently
converting part of the money to the personal
use.