Azeez Folorunso/
A policewoman who had stalled her trial last week, in a case of alleged N1.3billion theft by claiming she couldn’t communicate in English, has suddenly changed her tone in court today.
Helen Nwafor and four other officers including an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) are standing trial at the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
The court was stunned today when Nwafor was seen reacting to the English Language.
Justice Sherifat Solebo told counsel to the defendants O. A. Osinfowora that the court noticed that the third defendant was reacting to English language in the court.
The Judge said: “Mr Osinfowora the court notice that your client is making responses to the English Language. However, the court has made arrangement for an Igbo language interpreter. Which language do you want the court to adopt for your client for the purposes of this trial?
Osinfowora responded: “My Lord; my client understands English language and we want the court to adopt it as the language of the court for this trial. I hereby apply that the Igbo interpreter should be discharged.”
The court thereafter discharged Ogamba Consilia, as the defendants were called to take their plea. A plea of none guilty was entered into by all the defendants.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), charged the defendants for stealing and attempted stealing of N1.3 billion, a property of Nigeria Police Force.
According to the charge number ID/8130c/18, brought by lead prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the defendants are facing a 14-count charge.
Those arraigned suspects are ACP Okpalugo Ifoma, Olumide Odumosu and Nwafor.
Facing alleged criminal charge, alongside defendants are their companies – Olu Osmond Nigeria Limited and Jemmy Yus Investment Nigeria Limited as represented by Olumide and Sule respectively.
The anti-graft agency is on the trail of the duo of Ogbadu Joseph and Hassan Paolo Mohammed who are on the run.
Their offence is bordering on conspiracy to steal and stealing contrary to section 409 and punishable under section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state 2011.
The charge reads in part: “Ogbadu Joseph (now at large), Hassan Paiko Mohammed (now at large), Sule Yusuf Tegina, Olu Odumosu, Helen Nwafor, Okpalugo Ifeoma, Olu Osmond Nigeria Limited and Jemmy Yus Investment Nigeria Limited sometimes in 2013 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing of the sum of N1, 301, 334, 108, property of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Ogbadu Joseph (now at large), Hassan Paiko Mohammed (now at large) Olumide Odumosu between 21st day of May, 2013 and 29th day of November, 2013, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honorable court dishonestly converted to personal use, the sum of N6, 250, 000, property of Nigeria Police Force.”
The charge further states: “Ogbadu Joseph (now at large), Hassan Paiko Mohammed and Olumide Odumosu between June 17th, 2014 and December 31st, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honorable court dishonestly converted to personal use the sum of N85, 610, 000, property of the Nigeria Police Force.”
Justice Solebo adjourned the matter to November 20 for ruling and the opening of the prosecution case.
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