Davidson Iriekpen
A former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, on Monday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he was holding plea bargain talks with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
An investigation officer, Tosin Owobo, had earlier testified that Amosu and two other former Nigeria Air Force (NAF) chiefs allegedly diverted N21billion to their personal accounts from NAF.
He said they diverted the sum through several companies which they personally incorporated and none of which had any transaction or contract with NAF.
Owobo was testifying in the trial of Amosu, former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.
They were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris but pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against them.
An initial plea bargain talks with EFCC broke down after they reportedly refunded about N2billion to the federal government.
EFCC accused them of converting N21billion from NAF through various companies – Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil and Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care Limited.
Yesterday, EFCC’s lawyer, Nnaemeka Omewa, told the court that the defence team was currently in talks with the commission towards reaching a plea bargain agreement.
“My lord, the defence team met with the prosecution and has proposed terms of settlement. We are still on it, but we are also ready to go on with the trial of the accused persons,†Omewa said.
Amosu’s lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), confirmed that talks were ongoing, but he sought an adjournment to allow parties conclude with discussions.
“It is true that parties have met. It is also true that terms have not been fully perfected. Therefore, parties will be willing to come back before the court to report the outcome of our discussions,†he said.
Owobo had testified that N5.9billion was transferred from NAF accounts to Delfina Oil and Gas Limited.
