Ex-President Jonathan’s cousin sent to Kuje Prison over $40 million scam

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria has ordered that a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Azibaola Robert, be remanded in Kuje Prison pending the determination of his bail application. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba handed the order on Monday when Mr. Robert and his wife, Stella, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The anti-graft body had arraigned the duo on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption. Mr. Robert and wife are accused of diverting $40 million purportedly meant for the supply of tactical communication kits for Nigeria’s Special Forces.
The funds were alleged to have been transferred from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, with the Central Bank of Nigeria to the domiciliary account of their company, One Plus Holdings. The offence, according to the EFCC, contravenes Section 8(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act. When the charges were read to them, the accused persons pleaded not guilty. Following their not guilty plea, counsel to EFCC, Aliyu Yusuf, urged the court to fix a date for trial while the accused be remanded in prison custody.
While the court ruled that Mrs. Robert should continue to enjoy the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC, it fixed June 8 for ruling on the bail application of her husband.