Former governor of Adamawa remanded in prison for N2.9bn fraud

The

Fintiri was charged along with Mayim Construction and Properties Limited.

Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, made the disclosure in a statement he issued to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

The statement said that Fintiri, a former Speaker, who served briefly as acting governor, allegedly laundered monies through his Naira and dollar accounts domiciled in one of the new generation banks.

It added that he made large cash payment for the purchase of a property in Abuja on Oct. 9, 2014.

The statement said that Fintiri indirectly disguise the origin of the aggregate sum of N550, 000,000 (five hundred and fifty million naira) through a loan of twelve months purportedly granted him by the bank.

"Fintiri pleaded not guilty, while a plea of not guilty was also entered for Mayim Construction and Properties Limited, pursuant to the provisions of Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

"In view of the pleas by the accused, counsel to EFCC, requested for a date for commencement of trial and that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.

"However, counsel to the first and second defendants, informed the court that he had a pending motion dated June 24, 2016 and filed on June 27, 2016 seeking for release of the defendant on bail.

It further added that it was a criminal trial and it was fundamental that all processes before the court carried the appropriate parties.

According to the statement, the motion filed by the defence was a deliberate attempt to amend the charges and confuse and frustrate court processes.