Money laundering charge: Ohakim denies using proxy to acquire N270m Abuja house
ABUJA - Erstwhile Imo state governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, opened his
defense to the felony charge of three counts the Economic and Financial
Crime Commission, EFCC, preferred against him before the Federal High
Court in Abuja.
IKEDI OHAKIM
Ohakim, who set up the box and testified before Judge Ademola Adeniyi as the first defense witness, DW-1, denied the allegation that he used Abu Sule as an attorney to acquire a N270million mansion in Abuja.EFCC alleged that Ohakim purchased the property at 60 Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot 1098, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja with cash payment of $ 2.29, which is said to be equivalent to $ N270m in November 2008. The property, according to the agency, was purchased with funds that the defendant allegedly laundered the treasury of the state of Imo. He was also accused of not declaring ownership as part of his assets when the EFCC so requested. Prosecutors said the former governor violated section 15 (1) (d) and section 14 (1) (b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2004. However, Ohakim, who previously pleaded not guilty of the prosecution, on Wednesday, denied the allegations. Taken into evidence by his lawyer, Chief Awa Kalu, SAN Ohakim said: "My lord never used anyone as a power to acquire a property; I never pressed him to buy a property for me in his name (from Sule) and I did not give him money. " Sule, who was Managing Director of Tweeenex Consociate H.D, had previously testified before the court as the second main witness. He told the court that the defendant had in 2012, hired his company to find a house for him to buy in Abuja, even as he addmitted helping the former governor to acquire the property with the name of his firm. However, Ohakim in his testimony refuted Sule's claim, saying, "I did not get involved in any dollar transaction with anyone to buy property for me." There was no point in time that I invited any Sule to my residence and never I gave money to Ghana in Ghana should go bags. I never conspired with anyone to steal or launder money for me. "He also denied hiding information about his personal assets." I did not hide any information, I did not hide any of my property in the course of filing my asset return forms; I could not have declared property that does not belong to me. "Meanwhile, prosecuting attorney Mr. Festus Okpe prayed to the court for an adjournment to allow him to prepare properly to examine the former governor again.Judge Ademola postponed subsequently the matter until October 23 for the continuation of the hearing.
IKEDI OHAKIMOhakim, who set up the box and testified before Judge Ademola Adeniyi as the first defense witness, DW-1, denied the allegation that he used Abu Sule as an attorney to acquire a N270million mansion in Abuja.EFCC alleged that Ohakim purchased the property at 60 Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot 1098, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja with cash payment of $ 2.29, which is said to be equivalent to $ N270m in November 2008. The property, according to the agency, was purchased with funds that the defendant allegedly laundered the treasury of the state of Imo. He was also accused of not declaring ownership as part of his assets when the EFCC so requested. Prosecutors said the former governor violated section 15 (1) (d) and section 14 (1) (b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2004. However, Ohakim, who previously pleaded not guilty of the prosecution, on Wednesday, denied the allegations. Taken into evidence by his lawyer, Chief Awa Kalu, SAN Ohakim said: "My lord never used anyone as a power to acquire a property; I never pressed him to buy a property for me in his name (from Sule) and I did not give him money. " Sule, who was Managing Director of Tweeenex Consociate H.D, had previously testified before the court as the second main witness. He told the court that the defendant had in 2012, hired his company to find a house for him to buy in Abuja, even as he addmitted helping the former governor to acquire the property with the name of his firm. However, Ohakim in his testimony refuted Sule's claim, saying, "I did not get involved in any dollar transaction with anyone to buy property for me." There was no point in time that I invited any Sule to my residence and never I gave money to Ghana in Ghana should go bags. I never conspired with anyone to steal or launder money for me. "He also denied hiding information about his personal assets." I did not hide any information, I did not hide any of my property in the course of filing my asset return forms; I could not have declared property that does not belong to me. "Meanwhile, prosecuting attorney Mr. Festus Okpe prayed to the court for an adjournment to allow him to prepare properly to examine the former governor again.Judge Ademola postponed subsequently the matter until October 23 for the continuation of the hearing.
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