Former commissioner for Health in Ekiti state, Dr. Femi Thomas,who was once Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, was Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court, Ikoyi Southwest Nigeria, over an alleged payment of 2.2 million dollars without going through a financial institution.
Arraigned alongside the former commissioner is a bureau de change operator, Kabiru Sidi.According to a four-count criminal charge number FHC/L/457C/2015 filed before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) prosecutor, A..B. C. Ozioko, it was alleged that Dr Thomas a.k.a. Doctor Ike, and Mrs Femi Thomas now at large, on or about 3 July, 2015, at House 20, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, compound, Idi-Araba, conspired among themselves to make and accept the sun of $2.2 million (United States dollars), which sum exceeded N5 million, as stipulated by the law.
The accused and Mrs Femi Thomas were also alleged to have made a cash payment of $2.2 million to Mr. Ibitoye John Bamidele without going through any financial institution.In count four of the criminal charge the Bureau De Change operator, Kabiru Sidi, was alleged to have on 15 July, 2015, at the Ikoyi office of EFCC, made a false statement to Afeez Mustapha, an investigating officer with the Commission, that he was the owner of the said $2.2 million.
The offences alleged to have been committed by the accused persons are contrary to sections 18 (2)(b): 1(a) and 39(2)(b) and punishable under sections 16(2)(b) and Section 39 (2)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.
The two accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges. Upon the plea of the accused persons, the EFCC prosecutor urged the court to remand them in prison custody and give a trial date.
However, lawyers to the accused persons led by Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, and Abiodun Ogundare told the court that they had filed an application for bail for the two accused persons.
They urged the court to admit the accused persons to bail, Dr Femi Thomas to bail onself- recognisance, and that the second accused person be admitted to bail on liberal terms.
Justice Saliu Saidu admitted Dr Femi Thomas to bail inthe sum of N25 million with two sureties. One of the sureties must be a Grade Level 15 officer in Federal or Lagos State Ministry, while the other surety must be a landed property owner within Lagos State, and the Bureau de Change operator was admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties.
One of the sureties must be a Grade Level 12 officer in Federal or Lagos State ministry, while the second surety must be a landed property owner within Lagos State.
The judge also ordered that the two sureties must depose to affidavit of means and submit their passport photographs, while the two accused persons must deposit their international passports with the Register of the court.Justice Saidu, while adjoining the case till 12 May for trial ordered that the two accused persons be remanded in prison custody pending the time they are able to perfect their bail conditions.
[pm news]
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