Azeez Folorunso/
Six officers have been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly robbing the Nigeria Police of N1.3billon.
The case was brought before a Lagos High Court, in Ikeja, on Thursday.
According to the charge number ID/8130c/18, brought by lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, the defendants are facing a 14-count charge.
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 defendants charged before Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja are: Olumide Odumosu, Sule Yusuf Tegina, Helen Nwafor and Okpalugo Ifeoma.
Also 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 two other suspects identified as Ogbadu Joseph and Hassan Paolo Mohammed who are allegedly on the run.
Oyedepo told the court that the action of the defendants is contrary to Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 and they are liable to be punished under Section 285(1) of the same Act.
Drama ensued shortly after Nwafor told the court that she did not understand English language and would require the charges to be translated to her in Igbo language.
The judge thereafter adjourned till November 7, 2018 to enable the court to get an Igbo interpreter.
The defence counsel, A.O. Osinfowora, prayed that the defendants should be returned to the EFCC, but Justice Solebo turned the prayer down and ordered instead that the defendants should be remanded in the prison custody.
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, wit: stealing of the sum of N1,301,334,108.00 billion, property of the Nigerian 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 honourable court dishonestly converted personal use the sum of N6, 250, 000.00 million,property of Nigerian 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 honourable court dishonestly converted to personal use the sum of N85, 610, 000.00 million, property of the Nigerian Police Force.”
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