The ongoing trial of the embattled former chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Adesina Amosu(retd.) did not go on Wednesday before justice Chukwujeku Aneke sitting in Federal high court Lagos due to the unavailability of the judge.
Tribune Online recalls that the EFCC on November 13, 2018, re-arraigned the Ex-chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Adesina Amosu(retd.) and two others before the judge on an amended 13-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N21bn.
Amosu is facing trial alongside Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun, a former Chief of Account and Budgeting, and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni, a former Director of Finance and Budgeting for alleged conspiracy and conversion of the funds belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, to their personal use.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, the registrar informed the parties that the trial judge is undergoing training outside the jurisdiction thereby asked parties to agree on another date.
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EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo urged the registrar of the court to give an earlier date as prescribed by the administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which states that an adjournment in a criminal proceeding shall not be more fourteen days interval.
Consequently, the case was adjourned to the 6th and 7th of March for the continuation of trial.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun Nunayon (RTD) Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga, on or about the 5th day of March, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N21,467,634,707.43(Twenty One Billion, Four Hundred and sixty seven Million, Six Hundred and Thirty Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seven Naira, forty three Kobo), property of the Nigerian Air Force which you sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: criminal breach of trust,and hereby Committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering ( prohibition) Act, 2011( as amended) and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
and then