EFCC Arraigns Ex-NBA Chairmen over Alleged Stealing, Money Laundering

Two former Chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja branch, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana and Mr. Yinka Farounbi, were on Wednesday arraigned before an Ikeja Special Offences Court for alleged stealing and money laundering.

Ogunlana, who is the immediate past chairman of the NBA branch, and Farounbi, his predecessor, were arraigned alongside the branch immediate past Treasurer, Aderinol Kappo, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Mojisola Dada of Special Offences Court on 30-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, stealing and conspiracy.

According to EFCC, the defendants allegedly stole a total sum of N20 million belonging to the association.

They were alleged to have between 2016 and 2018 committed the offence by converting to personal use the said amount into Ogunlana's first bank account through issuance of cheque ‘without authorisation'.

The prosecution led by Samuel Daji informed the court that the offences are contrary to Sections 278(1) (b) and 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, No: 11,2011; conspiracy to commit felony to wit stealing contrary to Section 409 and 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No: 11, 2011.

The trio however pleaded not guilty when all the charges were read to them.

Following their plea, counsel to defendants, Akin Olatunji, informed the court of a bail application he had filed on behalf of the defendants.

According to him, "We literally fought the prosecution to prosecute this matter and they have been coming to court since last Monday.

"The court is at its discretion to admit the defendants to bail after their arraignment. The essence of bail is for defendants to be present in court. They are responsible personalities who are ready to come for the trial anytime as demonstrated in their coming since last Monday.”

However, EFCC counsel, Daji, told the court that he would be opposing the bail application on the grounds that the first defendant had been threatening the lives of the witnesses billed to testify in the matter.

"My Lord we shall be vehemently opposing the bail application. The lives of our witnesses are in danger.

"The first defendant, through his agents, has been threatening the witnesses, and even some of our operatives have been threatened too. I just want to state that this matter is not personal. Since we started this case, there have been incidences where the defendants have been violent," Daji said.

He therefore urged the court to remand the defendants in prison custody pending the court's ruling on the bail application.

After listening to both parties, Justice Dada granted bail to the defendants on liberal terms.

The Judge said: “I have considered the case of the matter, and considering the fact that the defendants are ex-officials of the NBA, the court will be granting them a temporary bail.

"They are however ordered to submit their international passports to the court registrar pending the determination of their bail condition.”

She thereafter adjourned the matter till June 3, 2019, for hearing of the bail application and opening of the prosecution case.

However, there was a mild drama in the courtroom when the immediate past Chairman of the Ikeja NBA, Ogunlana, collapsed in the dock after taking his plea. His co-defendants helped him up.

The former NBA leaders’ travails were initiated by a petition written to the EFCC by three members of the Ikeja NBA over an alleged misappropriation of N30 million belonging to the branch.