Court adjourns trial of ex-NHIS boss

A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, adjourned until May 15 and May 16 the continuation of the trial of a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Oluwafemi Thomas.

Thomas is standing trial alongside a Bureaux de Change operator, Kabiru Sidi, on four counts bordering on $2.2 million money laundering.

They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and were first arraigned in 2016, before Justice Saliu Saidu.

They had each pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail.

The case was, however, reassigned to Justice Ayokunle Faji after Saidu was transferred from the Lagos division of the court.

The trial has since commenced in the suit and the defence had opened its case and still giving evidence in court

When the case was called on Monday, Mr Ekene Iheanacho, appeared for the prosecution while Mr O. Gbolahan appeared for the first defendant.

The second defendant, however, informed the court of the absence of his counsel on the grounds of ill health

On his part, the prosecutor expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, adding that he had come in from Abuja last week hoping to take this case.

He, however, said that in the circumstance, he would accept an adjournment.

While noting that the second defendant was entitled to be represented by a counsel, the court also noted that the defendant had narrated to the court his efforts to secure a counsel.

The court consequently, adjourned the case until May 15 and 16 and urged the defendant to ensure he is present in court with his counsel on the next date.

It was gathered that the charge against the defendants has been amended several times, with the defendants taking fresh pleas on each amendment.

They were re-arraigned on March 6, 2019.

The prosecution closed its case in January 2020 after calling six witnesses and tendering 26 exhibits.

The defence on their part filed a no-case submission arguing that the prosecution had not made out any prima facie case against them to warrant them to open their defence.

Meanwhile, the no-case submission filed by the defence failed, as Justice Faji on March 13, 2020, dismissed their application and ordered the defence to open its case

An appeal against the ruling of the trial court also failed at the appellate court which delivered judgement on September 30, 2021.

The defence was thus asked to open its case, which is now ongoing.

In the amended charge numbered FHC/L/457C/2015, the EFCC alleged that the first defendant and his wife who is said to be at large, had on July 3, 2015, conspired to move out of the court’s jurisdiction, the sum of $2.19 million said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The defendant was said to have procured the assistance of one Bamidele Ibitoye to help move the money, which was the proceeds of his alleged unlawful enrichment as a public servant without going through a financial institution.