The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the duo of Haruna Gora Pama and Kadiri James, before the Federal High Court sitting in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, over alleged money laundering to the tune of N36.2 million.
They were arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC on two-count charges of money laundering and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N36,247,937.72 before Justice Tijjani Ringim on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.
Count one of the charges read: “That you, Haruna Gora Pama, Kadiri James and Peter Katuka, Freedom, Monday Ekoja George, Abdulmajid Khamis, and David Potter (all now at large) sometime in June 2022, at Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire amongst yourselves to do illegal act, to wit: conspiracy to commit money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21 of the Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended) respectively.”
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Count two read: “That you, Haruna Gora Pama, Kadiri James and Peter Katuka, Freedom, Monday Ekoja George, Abdulmajid Khamis and David Potter (all now at large) sometime in June 2022, at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, directly converted the aggregate sum of N36,247,937.72 which you ought to know that it formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: obtaining money under false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
The prosecution counsel, Faruk Muhammad, prayed the court for a trial date and for them to be remanded in a correctional centre.
Justice Ringim, however, remanded the defendants in a correctional centre and adjourned the matter till February 1, 2024, for trial.
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