THE Federal Government on Thursday tendered a cash sum of $1.3m recovered from the Abuja mansion of retired Air Commodore Umar Mohammed.
The huge foreign currency which was tendered by government at a Federal High Court in Abuja was admitted as exhibit after it was counted in the open courtroom with the aid of electronic counting machine.
The exhibit was tendered during the continuation of trial of Mohammed for alleged fraud and money laundering charges brought against him by government.
During the resumed trial, the prosecution counsel, Labaran Magaji, tendered the cash as exhibit along with various other currencies, with an explanation that they were recovered from the defendant’s possession.
However, the defence counsel, Dr Hassan Liman (SAN), thereafter cross-examined the prosecution witness, Stephen Olatubosun, through whom the exhibit was tendered.
He informed the court of his client’s intention to file a no-case submission on the grounds that prima facie case had not been established against him.
Justice Inyang Ekwo after listening to parties in the case ordered the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court to deposit the foreign currency with the Central Bank of Nigeria, pending conclusion of the trial.
He subsequently adjourned the case till May 27.
Mohammed was accused of receiving $1.3m cash from one Worldwide Consortium PTY Limited in 2016, through his company Easyjet Airlines in violation of the Money Laundering Act 2011.
Copyright PUNCH.
