Anti-graft agency, Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday slammed six-count criminal charge
against former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Sylva is facing allegations of
criminal conspiracy and conversion of state’s properties and resources
amounting to N2.45 billion while in office.
In the suit filed by EFCC
counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the former
governor allegedly perpetrated the act through the use of proxies.
He was alleged to have stolen the
money under the false pretence of using the amount to augment salaries of the
Bayelsa State Government workers.
The alleged offences are contrary
to Sections 14(1) and 17(a) and punishable under Section 14(1) of the Money
Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004.
They are also contrary to
Sections 1(1) (b) and 8(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee
Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2004.
The proxies allegedly used by the
former governor are one Habibu Sani Maigidia, a Bureau De Change Operator with
Account No. 221433478108, in Fin Bank, Plc; Enson Benmer Limited with Account
No. 6152030001946, in First Bank, Plc and John Daukoru with Account No.
04800250000418, in United Bank for Africa, Plc.
The charge reads:
Count 1- That you, Timipre Sylva,
as Governor of Bayelsa State, with others now at large, sometime between
October, 2009 and February, 2010, at various places in Nigeria, including
Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did conspire to commit
a crime to wit: conversion of properties and resources amounting to
N2,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira) belonging to Bayelsa State Government and
derived from an illegal act, with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of
the said amount and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a)
of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act), 2004 and punishable under Section
14(1) of the same Act.
Count 2- That you, Timipre Sylva,
as Governor of Bayelsa State, with others now at large, on or about January 22,
2010, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, converted
the sum of N380,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Eighty Million Naira), property
of the Bayelsa State Government, through the account of one Habibu Sani
Maigidia, a Bureau De Change Operator with Account No. 221433478108, in Fin
Bank, Plc, which sum you knew represented the proceeds of an illegal act with
the aim of concealing the nature of the proceeds of the said illegal act and
you thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 14(1)
of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under
section 14(1) of the same Act.
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