A former Acting Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Haruna Jauro, and two others facing N304.1 million fraud charges in a Federal High Court in Lagos have indicated intention to enter into a plea bargain.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, confirmed to the court on Monday that the accused had approached the anti-graft agency to explore the option of a plea bargain.
Mr. Jauro, Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Ltd., were arraigned on a 19-count charge on April 12.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million each with two sureties each in like sum.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, Mr. Jauro’s lawyer,
Babajide Koku told the court that his client had decided to enter into plea bargain with the EFCC.
Mr. Koku said his client had already commenced talks with the EFCC.Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, before whom the accused are being prosecuted, fixed November 21 for a report on the plea bargain process.
Mr. Jauro assumed the leadership of NIMASA following the sack of an erstwhile Director General of the agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is also being prosecuted alongside others for alleged multi-billion naira fraud.
Barnabas Hunjo, Esq.
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