Court Adjourns Atewe’s Trial to October 20

A Federal High Court in Lagos wednesday further adjourned until October 20, the trial of a former military Commander, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, and three others, charged with N8.5 billion fraud.

Atewe, a former Commander of the Niger-Delta Military Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, is charged alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Also charged are two staffs of NIMASA, Kime Engonzu and Josephine Otuaga.
The accused are standing trial on an amended 22-count charge bordering on the offence.

Yesterday, the trial of the accused was further adjourned to October 20, following the absence of the trial judge, Justice Ayokunle Faji, who is said to be attending a workshop.

The accused were re-arraigned before Justice Faji on February 3, following the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Saliu Saidu from Lagos to Port Harcourt.
They had pleaded not guilty and were allowed to continue on the earlier bail terms granted by the previous judge.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the accused conspired to defraud NIMASA of N8.5 billion using seven companies.
The companies are: Jagan Ltd, Jagan Trading Company Ltd; Jagan Global Services Ltd; Al-Nald Ltd; Paper Warehouse Ltd; Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-Newlink Integrated Services Ltd.

The EFCC claimed that the accused committed the alleged fraud between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015.
The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

The offence also contravenes the provisions of Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C. 38, Laws of the Federation, 2004.