The Makurdi zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Thursday, arraigned one Benki Womboh, a lawyer before the Federal High Court, Makurdi.
The suspect was arraigned on two counts bordering on his refusal to furnish the commission with information required in the declaration of assets form and for accepting cash payment without going through a financial institution.
One of the two counts read, “That you, Benki Iortyom Womboh, between 2013 and 2018 in Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, accepted cash payment of the total sum of N21,718,000 belonging to the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Benue State chapter, without going through a financial institution, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) and (3) of the same Act.”
Womboh, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecuting counsel, Y. Y. Tarfa, asked for a trial date and opposed the remand of the defendant in the EFCC custody.
The counsel for the defendant, A. A. Chukuma, did not oppose the application for a trial date but made an oral application for the bail of his client, stressing that as a lawyer of 17 years at the bar with a law firm within the jurisdiction of the court, he should be granted bail on self-recognisance.
Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N2m with one surety in like sum, who must be gainfully employed.
The case was adjourned till January 15, 2020, for the commencement of trial.
In a related development, the anti-graft agency has secured the conviction of one Akintunde Ogunrinde, aka Kekere.
Ogunrinde was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by Justice Olajuwon.
The convict, who entered into a plea bargain agreement with the commission, was re-arraigned on an amended charge of attempting to defraud one Ademola Adewuyi of N800,000, to which he pleaded guilty to.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, G. G. Chia-Yakua, urged the court to accept the plea bargain agreement and convict him accordingly.
Justice Olajuwon pronounced him guilty and subsequently convicted and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine.
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