The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned a former head of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Haruna Jauro, for an alleged N295.6m fraud in the agency.
Jauro assumed the leadership of NIMASA following the sacking of its former Director General, Patrick Apkobolokemi, who is now being prosecuted alongside others for alleged multi billion naira fraud in the agency.
Jauro was arraigned on 19 counts on Tuesday before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola, along with one Dr. Dauda Bawa and a company, Thlumbau Enterprises Limited.
The defendants were accused of defrauding NIMASA to the tune of N295,618,500 bewteen January 2014 and September 2015.
The 19 counts pressed against them bordered on theft, fraudulent conversion of NIMASA’s property to their private use and money laundering.
In the charge sheet presented in court by its prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC accused Jauro, Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Limited of violating Section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, adding that they are liable to punishment under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
The defendants however pleaded not guilty to all the counts, following which their counsel, M.I.Chawar, urged the court to admit them to bail in liberal terms.
Oyedepo did not oppose the bail application.
In her ruling, Justice Olatoregun-Ishola admitted Jauro and Bawa to a N5m bail each with two sureties in like sum.
The judge said the sureties must swear to affidavit of means and produce three years tax clearance, while Thlumbau Enterprises Limited was ordered to produce N5m bond.
The case was adjourned till May 16 and 17, 2016 for trial.
Meanwhile, in a separate charge also presented before Justice Olatoregun-Ishola, the EFCC accused two other NIMASA officials, Calistus Obi and Dismass Adoon, and two companies – Grand Pct Limited and Global Sea Investment Limited – of defrauding NIMASA of N331m.
The defendants, who were arraigned on eight counts, however pleaded not guilty.
Their counsel Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), urged the court to grant them bail in liberal terms.
Justice Olatoregun-Ishola granted them N5m bail each with two sureties in like sum and adjourned till May 17, 2016 for trial. Punch
