Court Adjourns Buba’s $12m Money Laundering Trial After EFCC, Defence Clash Over Witness Questioning

Justice James Omotosho Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned the trial of Mrs. Dewa Buba and her co-defendant, Mr. Innocent Mbagwu, over alleged $12 million money laundering offences, following a heated exchange between counsel representing both parties.

The adjournment came after EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), objected to a question posed by Johnson Usman (SAN), defence lawyer to Buba, during the cross-examination of the prosecution’s first witness, Mr. Sulaiman Ciroma, owner of Funnacle BDC Ltd.

While being cross-examined, Ciroma was asked to confirm the names of those who collected U.S. dollars from Mrs. Aisha Achimugu, Managing Director of Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd. The defence counsel also sought clarification about individuals linked to different companies — including Ashrap Energy Oil Ltd and Ashrap BDC Ltd.

However, Oyedepo objected, arguing that the question was irrelevant to the case before the court. He contended that the charge against the defendants specifically concerned Ashrap Energy and Oil Services Ltd, not Ashrap BDC Ltd, despite the similarity in names.

“The case before your lordship borders on cash transactions conducted by Ashrap Energy and Oil Services Ltd without going through financial institutions,” Oyedepo said.
“Introducing Ashrap BDC amounts to misleading the witness and bringing in facts not in issue.”

He cited sections of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, noting that BDCs are recognised as financial institutions under the law.

In response, Usman disagreed, accusing the prosecution of attempting to restrict the defence from exploring relevant facts during cross-examination. He argued that Ciroma had already mentioned in his evidence-in-chief that certain individuals — Dantani and Trimisi — collected the funds in question.

“The objection seeks to muscle the defendants from defending themselves,” Usman said.
“We are merely referring to what the witness earlier stated on record.”

Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to October 16 and 17 for ruling on the objection and continuation of trial.

Buba and Mbagwu, who serves as Executive Director and Chief Compliance Officer of SunTrust Bank, are facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering involving $12 million.