N2.89bn fraud; FG arraigns Mba and others
The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally charged the former Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Emeka Mba before an Abuja Federal High Court in a 15-count charge bordering on alleged N2.89 billion fraud.
Mba and NBC’s Director of Finance and Accounts, Patrick Areh, Basil Udotai and Babatunji Amure, were accused of diverting the said sum of money for their own personal use, an offence contravening section 15 of the moneylaundering act.
Having pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them, their bail application was formally moved before the court and was granted, in compliance with a previous administrative bail they had been given by them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50million and one surety, with a landed property in like sum, who shall depose to an affidavit of means. The trial was adjourned till February 28, 2017.
The charges reads in part : “That you Emeka Mba (while being the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission) Patrick Areh while being the Director Finance and Account of the National Broadcasting Commission, Basil Udotai (trading in the name and style of technology advisor) and Babatunji Amure (trading on the name and style of Divine partners on or about the 15th day of August 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an illegal act to wit ” laundering the sum of N2,899,723,500.00 ( two billion, eight hundred and ninety nine million, seven hundred and twenty three thousand, five hundred naira) contrary to section 18 (a) of the money laundering prohibition act 2011 as amended and punishable under section 16(3) of the same Act.
“That you Emeka Mba while being the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission on or about the 10th day of August 2015, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court transfer the sum of sum of N2,899,723,500.00 ( two billion, eight hundred and ninety nine million, seven hundred and twenty three thousand, five hundred naira) from the account of National Broadcasting Commission domicile on Zenith Bank PLC with account number 1014164267 into the account of the technology Advisor domicile in Zenith Bank with account number 1011923722, when you knew that the funds are the proceeds of unlawful activities to wit fraud and to you hereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money laundering prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15(3)of the same Act”.
SEYI ANJORIN, Abuja