EFCC Press Release
Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High court
Abuja has
warned that he would issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Chidi Adabanya and eleven other accused
persons in the N1.9billion Shell Gbaran- Ubie Gas Project if they fail to
appear in court on November 17, 2014.
He gave
the warning after counsel for the accused persons, Barrister O. O Otemu told
the court that he was informed by the surety to the first accused that Adabanya
could not make it to court because he is hospitalized in Enugu as he suffered stroke, being a high
blood pressure and Diabetes patient. He further informed the court that his
telephone conversation with the other accused persons indicated that they were
not aware that the matter was slated for arraignment today as they were not
served. He however admitted that he was served on October 16.
Outraged
by the explanation, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the
court, that the information about the first accused could not be true as Chidi
Adabanya appeared before the House of Representatives on 15th October and he also
granted a radio interview last week on the matter before this court.
Expressing his displeasure, Jacobs informed the
court that Adabanya had written petitions against him on the matter, to the
National Judicial council, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and the House of
Representatives among others.
Jacobs also informed the court that the accused
persons were aware of the court proceedings today and had failed to appear as
they did at the last two adjourned dates, with the exception of the seventh
accused. He then prayed the court to issue a bench warrant for their arrest.
The accused persons who had been facing a 22-count
charge of money laundering preferred against them by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, were expected to be re-arraigned following the
re-assignment of the case to a new judge after the former trial judge, Justice
Gladys Olotu retired from the bench.
When the matter was called today, only the
seventh accused person, Benneth Ezekiel Hart was in court alongside his counsel
Dr, Ikenna Ihezue. Barrister Otemu, appeared for the third accused, Forstech Technical Nigeria Limited, but informed the court he would hold brief for
the other accused persons.
Prior to calling the criminal case against the
accused persons, the court had entertained an Asset forfeiture matter between
the State vs. Gastroil Ventures and C S Total Limited.
It will be recalled that in 2012, a Federal High
Court sitting in Lagos
had ordered that the StanbicIBTC Bank account of Gastroil Ventures Limited be
freezed at the instance of the EFCC, after it was linked as recipient of
proceeds of crime. That proceeds of crime allegedly emanated from Forstech
Technical Nigeria Limited, the ghost company at the centre of the Gbaran –Ubie
Gas Project Scam. However, a Federal High Court in Lagos which was unaware of the criminal charge pending before
a sister court in Abuja lifted the freeze order but the EFCC swiftly applied
for the the order to be reinstated.
To enable the court do justice in the cases since
they were related, Justice Ademola adjourned the two matters to November 17,
2014 after counsel to Gastroil Ventures claimed that he was not aware that his
client (Gastroil Ventures) was involved in a criminal matter.
According to Justice Ademola “the criminal charge
is hereby adjourned to 17th of November 2014 for arraignment of all
accused persons, the counsel to the 3rd accused should inform all
the accused persons except the 7th accused. Hearing notices should
be issued again, failing to appear, the court will issue a bench warrant for
their arrest”.
Chidi Adabanya, a former employee of Shell
Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, who, along with some officials of the
Bayelsa State Government, allegedly obtained the sum of N1.9billion from the
oil company through a phony consultancy contract for development permit in the
Gbaran- Ubie project.
Adabanya was charged together with Forstech
Technical Nigeria Limited, Gastroil Ventures Limited, Andrew
Feyaikebena Ebakpa; Ibe Uzoma, Ezekiel Benneth Hart, Presley Ebakpa, Kwokwo
Bolouwenimo and Kwokwo Ebikibina, Bikyiis Integrated Services Limited and Fambo
Integrated Services Limited, before Justice Gladys Olotu on June 18, 2012
on a 22-count charge that borders on money laundering the matter was
transferred to Justice Ademola Adeniyi when Olotu the former trial Judge
retired.
Wilson
Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
21st October, 2014
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