By TAIYE AGBAJE.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed Dec. 16 for trial of Bright Echefu, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Telecom Satellites Limited (TStv) and three others charged with money laundering .

The case, which was earlier fixed before Justice Inyang Ekwo, could not go on because it was not captured on the cause list.

The matter was subsequently rescheduled for Dec. 16 for trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had on June 6, 2024, arraigned Echefu and his co-defendants before Justice Ekwo.

Others arraigned alongside Echefu include the Executive Director of TStv, Felix Igboanuga; TStv and Briechberg Investment Ltd as 2nd to 4th defendants respectively.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Upon their not guilty plea, the judge admitted Echefu and Igboanuga to bail on the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted by the anti-graft agency.

Justice Ekwo, however, ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registrar and not to travel outside the court jurisdcition without the prior leave of the court.

He also threatened to revoke their bail if they failed to show up in court for their trial.

NAN reports that the defendants were alleged to have, on or about May 18, 2020, committed the money laundering offence, including tax evasion, unremitted Value Added Tax (VAT) and Company Income Tax and Pay As You Eam (PAYE) deducted from the salaries of 165 staff.

The offence is said to be contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.

In count five, Echefu, being the MD of Briechberg Investment Ltd on or about May 18, 2020 in Abuja, with intent to defraud, was alleged to have obtained the sum of N150 million from Mr Turaki Kabiru Tanimu, SAN, MD of Kalsiyam Farm.

In count six, Echefu was also alleged to have defrauded Mr Tanimu, MD of Kalsiyam Global and also former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, the sum of N380 million.

The monies were said to have been paid into Briechberg Investment Lid account number: 1015561485 domiciled with Zenith Bank Pic under the false pretence of representing loan advance to Telcom Satellite for the purpose of enhancing the acquisition of modern technology.

Echefu was alleged to have misappropriated and converted the said monies to his personal use, among other counts.

The offence, the anti graft agency said is contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences, Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. (NAN)

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