After nearly three months in detention, cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Robert Azibaaola, was granted bail by a Federal High Court, on Wednesday.
Both hsband, Azibaola and his wife, Stella, were admitted to bail to the sum of N1bn.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had Arraigned them on Tuesday on seven-count criminal charge bordering on alleged $40mi contract scam.
Equally charged to court over the charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and money laundering, was a company allegedly belonging to the defendants, Oneplus Holding Limited.
Trial Judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba also ordered the defendants to produce two sureties in the like sum.
According to the court, the sureties must be owners of landed properties within the Asokoro District of Abuja, and must present evidence of payment of income tax.
However, Justice Dimgba directed that the defendants should be remanded at Kuje Prison, pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The Judge, in granting them bail noted that “every citizen charged before a court is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“Taking a holistic appraisal of all the evidence before me, I am convinced that admit the defendant to bail.
“I believe the need not to make a mockery of the bail system”, Justice Dimgba held.
The EFCC had alleged that the defendants received a $40million contract from the detained former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki.
Lawyer to the defendants, Chris Uche (SAN,), said he was satisfied with the bail conditions, saying they were lenient enough.
Some of the charges against the defendants read: “That you Azibaola Robert being the Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer and a signatory to the Zenith Bank account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Stella Azibaola Robert, being a director and a signatory to the account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited and Amobi Ogum( now at large) on or about 8th September, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit an illegal act to wit: money laundering of the sum of $40million transferred to the domiciliary account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited with Zenith Bank, Account No. 5070365750 from the account of ONSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria upon a mandate Ref. No. 128/S.5LX/139 purporting to be for the supply of Tactical Communication Kits for Special Services and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Azibaola Robert, Mrs. Stella Azibaola Robert directly took control of $39.999,958 only out of the total sum of $40million transferred to the domiciliary account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited with Zenith Bank, Account No. 5070365750 from the account of ONSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria upon a mandate Ref. No. 128/S.5LX/139 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki(rtd), the then National Security Adviser( To wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you Azibaola Robert and Mrs. Stella Azibaola Robert on or about 8th September 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court directly converted $39.999,958 only out of the total sum of $40million transferred to the domiciliary account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki(rtd), the then National Security Adviser( To wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you Azibaola Robert and Mrs. Stella Azibaola Robert did directly transfer $6,600,000 only being part of the $39.999,958 only out of the total sum of $40million to the bank account of Karahyna Nigeria Limited, a Bureau De Change company for Naira exchange, which you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki(rtd), the then National Security Adviser( To wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.
“That you Azibaola Robert and Mrs. Stella Azibaola Robert did directly transfer the aggregate sum of $1million only being part of the $39.999,958 only out of the total sum of $40million to the bank account of Reya Telecommunications Nigeria Limited, a sister company to One Plud Holdings Nigeria Limited, which you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki(rtd), the then National Security Adviser( To wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act”.
The matter was adjourned to June 28 for hearing.
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