Absence Of EFCC’s Witness Stalls Money Laundering Trial Of Wife Of Ex-Governor’s Aide

The absence of the witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday stalled the trial of Mrs. Beauty Apere over allegations of money laundering at the Federal High Court, Yenagoa.

The accused is the wife to Embelakpo Apere a former aide on Sustainable Development Goals to former Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

The EFCC had on October 8th, arraigned Mr. Embelakpo Apere and his wife before a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa.

The duo were arraigned for money laundering allegedly carried out in 2015. When the case came up for commencement of trial, Prosecuting Counsel Mr. Mustapha Iko, told the court that the EFCC was not ready to proceed with the trial as its star witness was not released by the Commission’s headquarters. He explained that the case was originally slated for October 19, which fell on a public holiday and when the Port Harcourt zonal office of EFCC in an internal memo requested for the release of the witness, it was not granted as the date turned out to be a public holiday.

He appealed to the court to adjourn the case to enable the anti-graft agency to produce the witness to give evidence to substantiate the charges filed against the defendant.

However, Defense Counsel, Mr. Andrew Arthur, noted that the adjournment being sought had no merit and the delays were not in the interest of her client whose accounts were frozen and passport seized five years ago.

He said although he was not opposed to the adjournment sought by the EFCC, the court should take steps to expeditiously dispense justice as his client has been stopped from travelling to see her children schooling in the United Kingdom for five years.

The trial Judge, Justice I. H. Ndahen adjourned until November 3rd, for continuation of the trial.

According to the charges, Beauty Apere received various amounts equivalent to about N200 million in dollars and pounds sterling between May 2015 and April 27, 2016.

The EFCC alleged that the funds were proceeds of unlawful acts, punishable under the Money Laundering prohibition Act.

The commission also charged her for forgery of medical and birth certificates which purported emanated from the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

The court had on October 8, granted her bail to the tune of N10 million and two sureties who must have landed property in Yenagoa.

"Exciting news! TheNigeriaLawyer is now on WhatsApp Channels 🚀 Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest legal insights!" Click here! ....................................................................................................................... Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and other digital content on this website, in whole or in part, without express and written permission from TheNigeriaLawyer, is strictly prohibited _________________________________________________________________ [Register Now] ILA Nigeria Branch Marks 10 Years With Infrastructure Financing As Theme For 7th Annual Conference The International Law Association - Nigeria Branch 7th annual conference on public-private partnerships for sustainable infrastructure financing, April 4-5 in Abuja. Details: https://ilanigeria.org.ng/conference _________________________________________________________________

NIALS' Compendia Series: Your One-Stop Solution For Navigating Nigerian Laws (2004-2023)

Email: info@nials.edu.ng, tugomak@yahoo.co.uk, Contact: For Inquiry and information, kindly contact, NIALS Director of Marketing: +2348074128732, +2348100363602.