Alleged N148.3m fraud: Court throws out EFCC case

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has thrown out a case against six men and a company for alleged N148.3 million fraud.

The case was struck out for want of diligent prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) as the prosecuting counsel has not been coming to court.

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The EFCC had arraigned Alimi Haruna, Momouda Mohammed, Shittu Muideen, Akpojaro Amos, Joga Yusuf, Duru Patrick and a company before Justice Babs Kuewumi on October 30, 2018, over charges of conspiracy, money laundering and unlawfully retaining proceeds of illicit act, among others.

But till the case was struck out, the prosecuting counsel failed to show up after several adjournments; his last appearance in court was on November 6, 2018.

The trial judge, Justice M. A. Onyetenu, had on several occasions given the prosecuting counsel opportunity to appear before the court and even directed that Hearing Notice be served on the prosecution.

Reacting to the development, Counsel to first Defendant,  Oviemuno Obobolo, said his client, Haruna, in his capacity as the Managing Director of Mowa BDC Ltd, a licensed Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, made a transaction through his company in which he sold dollars to another BDC operator, BOK BDC Ltd, headed by Okey Onyeneke to help provide enough funds for a client.

Obobolo also stated that the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) was initially involved in the matter. They invited his client for a chat, and after a review of the facts, he was cleared.