The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission, Nicholas Ebomo. Ebomo was arraigned along with three others on Monday before Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged abuse of office.
The other defendants are Airworld Technologies LTD, Oyien Homes LTD, and one Blessing Mutu who is said to be at large. Mutu is being prosecuted on 11 counts of alleged financial crimes. When the charge was read to the former lawmaker, he pleaded not guilty to the financial crimes.
Upon taking his plea, lawyer to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, requested for a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility. But Mutu’s lawyer, P. Nikwueto, told the court that his client was ready for the trial and if the prosecution was not ready, he would apply for bail.
In his response, Iheanacho opposed the application for the bail of the defendant. He said, “My lord, we cannot take the risk we took in 2018 when we granted him bail. He was released in the name of one Anthony John Ikpoyi.
