Multi-billion Fraud charges: Former Air Chief explores out of court settlement
An out of court settlement process appears to have begun between former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Dikko Umar, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) going by indications at the resumption of his trial yesterday in Abuja.
The last time he was in court, Umar pleaded not guilty to a seven-count charge that included money launder; and got was released on bail on self recognition by Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court.
But Tuesday, the judge adjourned again for the 16th of June, 2016, shortly after an insistence by the prosecution that trial should continue, though Defence Counsel, Hassan Liman, wanted a stand down because meetings for out of court settlement were on.
Nyako predicated her ruling on the fact that the defence ought to have filed a summary of defence for trial to commence.
The charges against the former Air Chief the last time in court read:
“That, you Umar, while being the Chief of Air Staff, Nigeria Air Force, between September 2010 to September 2012 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, directly converted the United States Dollar equivalent of the aggregate sum of N4,846,630,000.00, removed from the account of the Nigerian Air Force, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful activities (to wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and you thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Umar, while being the Chief of Air Staff, NAF between November and December 2010 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did use the dollar equivalent of the sum of N700 million removed from the account of N.A.F to purchase for yourself, a property at no. 14 Vistula Close, Off Panama Close, Maitama, Abuja, when you ought to have known that the fund formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity of Air Marshal Umar, amounting to criminal breach of trust and corruption and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Umar, between March and April 2012, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the court used the dollar equivalent of N860 million removed from the account of N.A.F to purchase for yourself, a property at Plot 1853, Deng Xiao Ping Street, Off Mahathir Mohammed Stree, Asokoro Extension Abuja when you ought to have known that the fund formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity of Air Marshal Umar, amounting to criminal breach of trust and corruption and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.
“That you, Umar, while being the Chief of Air Staff between September and December 2012, within the jurisdiction of the court, used the dollar equivalent of N500 million to purchase a residential property comprising a four bedroom duplex within boys quarters at Road 3 B, Street 2, Mabushi Ministers Hill, Abuja when you reasonably ought to have known that the fund formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity of Air Marshal Umar, amounting to criminal breach of trust and corruption and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Umar, in 2011 in Abuja used dollar equivalent of N250 million to purchase for yourself, a property at No 14 Audu Bako Way, GRA Kano, when you reasonably ought to have known that the fund formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity of Air Marshal Umar, amounting to criminal breach of trust and corruption and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Umar, took the sum of N160 million to purchase and renovate for yourself, a property at Kabala Road, Unguwan Rimi, GRA, Kaduna, three bedroom duplex and three rooms boys quarters when you reasonably ought to have known that the fund formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity of Air Marshal Umar, amounting to criminal breach of trust and corruption and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Umar, on or about March 2012 in Abuja, transferred the sum of N66 million into the Stanbic IBTC account belonging to Capital Law Office from NAF operations account domiciled at UBA Plc for renovation and improvement of house No. 1853, Deng Xiao Ping Street, Off Mahathir Mohammed Street, Asokoro Extension, Abuja, when you reasonably ought to have known that the fund formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity of Air Marshal Umar, amounting to criminal breach of trust and corruption and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”