Nyesom wike, cos, rivers state arraigned in court for "pilfering" 4bn rvsg funds

[magma]

This is a follow up to the first thread

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...-efcc-net.html

UPDATE

EFCC Charges Rivers State Chief of Staff for Stealing N4.7 Billion; Wants To Question Governor Amaechi and Others

Last View on Thu 9th October, 2008
Last Modified on Thu 09th October, 2008 3:21:33 pm
Author: Posted by Admin Sahara
SaharaReporters, New York

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today charged Mr. Nyeson Wike, the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, with various counts of stealing N4.67 billion from the state’s coffers.

Wike was arraigned before Justice Abimbola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gudu area of Abuja. He is charged with six counts of stealing, abuse of office and embezzlement of public funds.

The first count accuses Mr. Wike of stealing N129 million, the second involves stealing N41.9 million, a third count accuses him of stealing N100 million, while the sixth count states that he pilfered N3.5 billion naira.

On Monday, EFCC officials arrested and detained Mr. Wike after he showed up at the agency’s offices accompanied by the secretary to the state government, Magnum Abbe. Mr. Abbe was also detained, but has been released on bail pending further investigations by the agency regarding financial scams perpetrated by state government officials using a state account domiciled with Zenith Bank in Port Harcourt.

The charges against Mr. Wike reveal that N4.67 billion went through his personal bank account at Zenith Bank. A senior EFCC official told SaharaReporters the agency suspects that the funds were laundered by the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, through Wike’s account.

A source close to Amaechi confided in our correspondent that the governor and his strategists are designing strategies to evade direct interrogation of the governor by EFCC officials.

Governor Amaechi traveled to London with the commissioner of finance as well as the state Accountant General ostensibly for “official reasons.” An EFCC official told our correspondent that the agency is interested in questioning both the governor as well as the finance commissioner and accountant general “in order to get to the root of the shocking movement of state funds through private accounts.”



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[magma]

Gov. Amaechi's Chief of Staff Granted Bail
Written by Jonathan Elendu
Thursday, 09 October 2008
Nyesom Wike, the chief of staff to Rivers State Governor was today granted bail by an Abuja High Court. Wike, who had been in detention since Monday was arraigned today at an Abuja High Court on 7 counts of stealing and criminal breach of trust by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges allege that Wike, between 2007 and 2008, stole about N4.5 billion belonging to the Rivers State Government. Wike pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

His lead counsel, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, leading B.B. Dodo SAN, Sunday Ameh SAN and others, made an oral application for bail. Making application for bail, Fagbemi told Justice Adebukola Banjoko that Nyeso Wike went to the EFCC by himself on Monday from where he was detained.

Fagbemi also told the Court that Wike has been a lawyer for over 10 years and is the chief of staff to the Rivers State Governor. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria informed the Court that Wike, prior to this time had never been arraigned in any Court for a criminal offence and was not likely to interfere with the investigations of EFCC as the agency had concluded its investigations. Wike, according to his counsel is a father, a husband and has roots in the community. Fagbemi told the Court that the offences were all bail-able offences and therefore his client should be granted bail by the Judge.

The EFCC counsel, James Binang, while not strictly opposing bail, advised the Court to issue bail on conditions that would ensure that the accused appeared in court as there were other charges against him that would have to be tried at the Federal High Court. He said that the sum of money which the accused is being charged for stealing is higher than the threshold for money laundering charges and therefore would be arraigned in a Federal High Court at a later date.

Lateef Fagbemi opposed this submission by the EFCC counsel, saying that this Court should concern itself with the charges before it and not what will happen in the future.

Giving her ruling, the presiding judge, Adebukola Banjoko said, “Bail is an exercise of discretion that must be used to further justice. Right to bail is guaranteed under section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” She gave the following conditions for bail: Bail in the sum of N50m, with 2 sureties in like sum. The sureties must reside in Abuja, with proof of residence, must present their tax documents and swear to an affidavit of means. The accused and his sureties must submit their passports to the Court.

After the judgment, Lateef Fagbemi made an oral application to the Judge that the accused be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending when he meets the bail conditions. This application was not opposed by the EFCC and the Judge ruled in favor of the defence. The case was adjourned to October 24, 2008 for hearing.

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Last Updated ( Thursday, 09 October 2008 )