Court remands 3 ‘fake whistleblowers’ for raising false money laundry alarm against Audu Ogbeh

Three alleged fake whistleblowers, Theophilus Omambala, Lawal Umar and Alexander Danjuma, have been dragged before an the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Bwari, Abuja for raising false money laundry alarm against former Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, Chief Audu Ogbe.

The trio were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on one-count charge of false and misinformation.

The charge reads: “That you Theophilus Omambala sometime in 2021at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, gave false information to officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that monies were stashed at the residence of one Audu Innocent Ogbeh located at Lugbe District of the FCT, which information turned out to be false, untrue and misleading and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 39(2) (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act (2004)”.

When the case was read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty. In view of their plea, the prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Bokani Usman asked the Court for a trial date and that the defendants be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kuje.

Counsel to the defendants, A.I. Na-jirgi prayed the Court to grant his clients bail. The judge rejected his oral application, insisting on a formal bail application which should be filed before the next adjourned date.

The Presiding judge, Justice Musa Usman remanded the defendants in the Kuje Custodial Centre pending determination of bail application.

The case was adjourned till June 21, 2021 for further hearing.