The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has again filed fresh charges against former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva at the Federal High Court, Abuja. Justice Ahmed Mohammed (of the Federal High Court, Abuja) had on June 10 dismissed one of the two charges earlier brought against him and some others by the EFCC on the ground that it amounted to an abuse of court process.
However, EFCC disagreed with the judgment on the grounds that it was premature as the accused persons had not taken any plea before the court. Earlier on June 1, Justice Evoh Chukwu (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja) struck out the other charge upon EFCC's application for withdrawal. In the fresh 50-count charge filed on Friday, Sylva is charged alongside Francis Okokuro, Gbenga Balogun and Samuel Ogbuku.
They are accused of using three companies – Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited, and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Limited to move about N19.2 billion from Bayelsa State coffers between 2009 and 2012, under false pretence of using the withdrawn money to augment salaries of the state government workers. EFCC's Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren confirmed that a fresh charge had been filed. He said his agency was awaiting the assignment of the case, to pave way for the arraignment of Sylva and others. Thisdaylive
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