A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that a senior official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Muhammad Dangana, be remanded in prison pending the hearing of his bail application.
Justice Okon Abang gave the order on Friday after Dangana was arraigned on a 15-count charge in which he was, among others, accused of engaging in money laundering to the tune of N630million.
In the charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dangana was said to be serving as Executive Assistant to the Financial Controller in ECOWAS Commission Secretariat, Abuja, when he allegedly committed the offences.
Dangana was said to have conspired with two others – Sulaiman Muhammed Hussain and Saleh Dangana, who the EFCC said were now at large.
He was accused of diverting the funds to among others, acquiring properties in Abuja, including a plot of land he allegedly bought in Guzape at N200million and an apartment in Garki at N42m.
The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him, following which the prosecuting lawyer, Wahab Shittu, sought a date for the commencement of trial.
Justice Abang then adjourned until November 11, 2019 for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application and trial.
Some counts in the charge read: “That you, Muhammad Dangana, male, adult, being the Executive Assistant to the Financial Controller in ECOWAS Commission Secretariat, Abuja did launder the sum of N200million you dishonestly diverted from ECOWAS Commission’s funds entrusted in your care and management, by using same to purchase a plot of land lying, situate and being plot 86 Guzape district, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3)of the same Act.
“That you, Muhammad Dangana, male, adult, being the Executive Assistant to the Financial Controller in ECOWAS Commission Secretariat, Abuja did launder the sum of N42m you dishonestly diverted from ECOWAS Commission’s funds entrusted in your care and management, by using same to purchase a four-bedroom terrace house lying, situate and being at No 4 Agatu Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3)of the same Act.