LG Boss Docked For Money Laundering

The Chairman of Billiri Local Government Area in Gombe, Robenson Wasa, was on Wednesday arraigned at a Federal High Court on a six-count charge of money laundering and forgery by the EFCC.

The EFCC’s Prosecuting Counsel, Mr. Alquasimial Ja’afar, told the court that Wasa had, between 2006 and 2008, purchased a plot of land and two cars worth N1.97 million.

He alleged that the cars, Toyota Carina Liftback and Toyota Carina Station Wagon, were bought in Bauchi at N1.3 million.

Ja’afar said the accused made cash payments for all the items, including the plot of land in Gombe he bought for N670,000.

He said the offence was contrary to Section 15 (i)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 15 (2)(b)(i) of the same Act.

The Counsel further alleged that the accused forged cash and credit invoices of Nosky Manuel Enterprises, Bona Christ Investment and Uchenna Spare Parts Company, all located at Billiri, Gombe State.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and his Counsel, Mr. Caleb Ubale, made an oral application for bail, but Ja’afar objected to the request.

Ja’afar insisted that because of the nature of the crime, application for bail should be in writing and properly argued to enable the court to decide.

After a brief argument on the matter by the two counsels, the judge, Justice Babatunde Olaide, adjourned the case till Feb. 7, and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.