New Telegraph

Court Adjourns Ex-NHIS Boss’ $2.2m Fraud Trial

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has postponed the continuation of Oluwafemi Thomas’ trial, a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) until May 15 and May 16.

Thomas is on trial with Bureau De Change operator, Kabiru Sidi on four counts related to money laundering involving $2.2 million.

They were initially charged in 2016, before Justice Saliu Saidu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and they were each given bail after entering not-guilty pleas to the charges.

But once Saidu was moved from the court’s Lagos division, the matter was given back to Justice Ayokunle Faji.

Since the lawsuit’s trial began, the defense opened its case and is continuing to testify in court.

When the matter was summoned on Monday, Mr. O. Gbolahan represented the first defendant, while Mr. Ekene Iheanacho represented the prosecution.

However, the second defendant notified the court that his attorney was not present due to illness.

The prosecutor voiced his displeasure with the circumstance and added that he had traveled from Abuja last week in hopes of taking on this case.

But he added that, given the situation, he would accept an adjournment.

The court recognized that the second defendant had a right to legal representation but also that the defendant had described to the court his efforts to find legal representation.

The defendant was afterward encouraged to ensure he is present in court with his attorney on the following date after the court adjourned the matter to May 15 and 16.

According to The News Agency of Nigeria, the defendants have entered new pleas following each change of the case against them.

On March 6, 2019, they were re-arrested.

In January 2020, the prosecution concluded its case after calling six witnesses and submitting 26 exhibits.

When it came to the prosecution, the defense asserted that there was insufficient evidence against them to support opening their defense in a no-case submission.

The defense’s no-case submission, however, was unsuccessful because Justice Faji rejected their application and required the defense to present its case on March 13, 2020.

The appellate court’s attempt to overturn the trial court’s decision likewise failed when it rendered its decision on September 30, 2021.

So, it was requested that the defense begin its case, which is currently proceeding.

The revised charge bearing the number FHC/L/457C/2015 The EFCC claimed that on July 3, 2015, the first defendant and his wife—who is supposed to be at large—conspired to relocate out of the court’s jurisdiction $2.19 million in purported proceeds from illegal acts.

The defendant was said to have moved the proceeds of his alleged illegal enrichment as a public servant without going through a financial institution by enlisting the help of one Bamidele Ibitoye.

They were charged with hiding the source of the mentioned money.

Additionally, it was claimed that the defendants paid the aforementioned money in cash directly to the named Ibitoye without using any financial intermediaries.

The second defendant was accused of lying to Mr. Afeez Mustapha, an EFCC investigating officer, on July 15, 2015, by claiming ownership of the specified amount of money.

The offenses violate the 2011 Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act’s sections 15(2), 15(3), and 16(2).

The terms of Section 39(2)(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 are also violated.

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