EFCC docks man for N22.2m money laundering in joint operation with FBI (photo)

- EFCC arraigned 26-year-old Olalegbin Christopher over an alleged money laundering to the tune of N22 million

- Christopher, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence was granted bail in the sum of N5 million pending the commencement of the trial

- The court also ordered the defendant to be remanded in Kirikiri prison pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case to October 18 and 23, 2019

The Lagos zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Olalegbin Christopher over an alleged money laundering to the tune of N22 million.

Christopher was arraigned on Thursday, September 19, alongside his firms, Pentview Luxury Real Estate Management Limited and Gelbin Technology Limited, before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

According to a statement by the anti-graft agency, the suspect was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering, an offence contrary to Section 332(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2015.

Legit.ng gathers that Christopher was arrested during a collaborative operation by the EFCC and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for his alleged involvement in illegal internet activities.

The defendant was also accused of using his companies to receive and conceal the proceeds of his criminal activities.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Olalegbin Christopher, Olatunji Olalegbin Mary (at large), Pentview Luxury Real Estate Management Limited, Gelbin Technology Limited and others still at large, between 2015 and 2019 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to collaborate in the concealing and disguising the genuine nature and ownership of the aggregate sum of N22, 239, 869.79k (Twenty Two Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty-nine Naira, Seventy-nine Kobo only)being money received and derived from your illegal internet activities.”

Christopher, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, M.K. Bashir, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the determination of the case.

Bashir argued against granting the defendant bail after his counsel, Abimbola Akeredolu,SAN, informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution.

He described the defendant as a flight-risk, adding that “the defendant, while making statement in the EFCC office, tried to move money from his Zenith Bank account through his phone and also wiped all the information on his phone.”

Bashir also informed the court that the defendant’s mum, who aided him in perpetrating the crime, could not be found.

“My Lord, the defendant too may also abscond like his mum.

“He is 26 years old and has never worked anywhere; yet,he acquired a 2019 model Porche car worth N120million and a 2015 model Merzedes Benz car worth N75million,” he further submitted.

The presiding judge, however, ruled that the offence is a bailable one and granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Taiwo adjourned the case to October 18 and 23, 2019 for the commencement of trial and also ordered the defendant to be remanded in Kirikiri prison pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

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Meanwhile, suspected fraudsters who are specialists in defrauding people by using bank details obtained through sim swaps and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) have been arrested by the Kaduna zonal office of the EFCC.

The suspects who are six in number include Urulo Ikenna Henry, an inspector with the Enugu Command of Nigerian Correctional Service. Others are Ugonna Nelson Owete, Ugonna Samuel Okafor Obinna, Chigbo Paschal Chidiebere, Oha Chukwujekwu Kingsley, Ahamefula Francis Izuchukwu.

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Source: Legit.ng