EFCC drags Chief Diamond Tobin- West, four other officers of Port Harcourt Club, a firm, to Court over N10million criminal case

The Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned a former President of Port Harcourt Club 1928, Chief Diamond Tobin- West, Afro- Rivers Nigeria Limited, and four other club officers: Chief Morrison Ifeanyi Asimole; Christian Kenechukwu Okoli, Telema Osazuwa, and Tonye Azike, to Court on 18- count charges bordering on conspiracy and money laundering contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.

The suspects were arraigned at the Federal High Court, in Port Harcourt, River State capital, presided over by Justice P.I. Ajoku, for conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N10, 170, 120( Ten Million, One Hundred and Seventy Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Naira only).

The charge sheet reads in part: Count 1: That you, Chief Diamond Tobin West; Chief Morison lfeanyi Asimole and Telema Osazuma, while ‘acting în your capacities as Officers of Port Harcourt Club, 1928, between 2017, ánd 2019, in conjunction with Afro-Rivers Nigeria Limifed; at Port Harcourt, in Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired to commit an’ offence punishable under Section 18(a) of the Money laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 201, as amended. .

COUNT 2: That you, Chief Diamand Tobin-West, Chief Morrison Ifeanyi Asimole and Telema Osazuma, while acting in your capacities as Officers of Port Harcourt Club 1928, on 12th day of February, 2018, in conjunction with Afro- Rivers Nigeria Limited, at Port- Harcourt, in Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this court, directly and indirectly took possession of the sum of One Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira( N1, 200, 000.00), money which to your knowledge formed part of proceed of unlawful act, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended”

They all pleaded “not guilty” to all 18- count charges preferred against them. Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel, S.M.H Ibekwute told the court that he was ready for trial and prayed that the suspects be remanded in a Correctional Facility. However, R. Wanogor, counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 5th defendants: pleaded that his clients be granted bail sequel to terms of an earlier administrative bail offered them by the EFCC.

Wanogor, notified the court that he had a short notice to file a bail application for his clients and sued for an oral consideration of his bail request. Counsel for the 4th defendant, M.O Azike and counsel for the 3rd and 6th defendants, B.C Egbe adopted the position of Wanogor and prayed the court to grant their request for bail.

Justice Ajoku, adjourned the matter till July 12, 2021 for consideration of bail applications, after listening to the submissions of the prosecution and defence counsel. The presiding Judge ordered that the accused be remanded in EFCC’s custody considering the congested nature of the correctional facility in the state.