In order t avoid going to jail,
three of those currently on trial for alleged corruption have pleaded with the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to allow them return cash and
surrender properties they allegedly made away with.
According to an EFCC source, the
commission has received requests from former National Publicity Secretary of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh, ex-Chiefs of Air Staff Air
Marshals Adeshola Amosu and Mohammed Dikko Umar.
Metuh is standing trial for
allegedly receiving N400 million from the former National Security Adviser
(NSA), Sambo Dasuki. The cash is believed to be part of the $2.1 billion
security fund that was allegedly diverted.
Amosu was arraigned at a Federal
High
Court in Lagos alongside Air Vice marshal (AVM) Jacob Adigun and Air
Commodore Gbadebo Olugbenga, on a 26-count of stealing about N50 billion.
The EFCC source added: “We have
formally received letters of plea bargain from three accused persons — Metuh,
Umar and Amosu— we are studying their terms.
“ We may enter into a plea bargain
with the accused persons if it will serve the public interest. The interest is
getting back the stolen funds. If they can fulfill this condition (public
interest), we may accept their offers.”
But he did not specify the details
of the request from the accused persons “because we are still studying them”.
Also yesterday, it was learnt that
following threats from unknown quarters, the EFCC strengthened security for its
key witnesses against suspects on trial for the $2.1billion arms deals scandal.
Those affected are witnesses against
a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, ex-Chief of Defence
Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and ex-Chiefs of Air Staff Amosu and Umar
as well as Metuh.
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It was learnt that the anti-graft
agency has struck an agreement with the police and other security agencies to
protect the witnesses.
Most of the witnesses are from the
account, procurement, and audit units of ONSA, the Air Force, the Army, and
some government departments.
It was learnt that the EFCC was
concerned that since the list of all the witnesses has been attached to charge
sheets in courts in Abuja and Lagos, the witnesses have become “vulnerable.”
The special protective measure took
effect for some of the witnesses in the past two weeks.
Apart from attaching riot policemen
to some of these witnesses, some of them have been offered accommodation, transportation
to and from the court, and feeding.
A source, who spoke in confidence,
said: “By the new Administration of Criminal Justice Act, we are mandated to
attach the list of witnesses to every case.So, we have a long list of witnesses
which had become public knowledge. They include account officers, directors of
finance and accounts, procurement officers, serving and retired military and
security personnel; bank officials and personal aides.
“But some of these witnesses have
been receiving threats and have come under pressure to either back out of the
cases or frustrate the EFCC. These witnesses have chosen to be patriotic to
serve the nation by testifying in courts.
“This was why at a stage, we
approached the court to allow some of these witnesses to testify in camera.
“While we are looking into the
threats, we have decided to be proactive by protecting these key witnesses,
including Air Commodore Salisu Yushau, who has been testifying against Badeh.”
Credit: Today
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