The Lagos State Special Offences Court has remanded two activists over an allegation relating to bribing which they allegedly planned to collect from Wahum Company in order to withdraw a petition against it at EFCC custody.
The activists who are Mr Dandy Eze and Solomon Johnson were arraigned at the court on four counts charges bordering on conspiracy to commit felony and acceptance of a bribe to the tune of N50 million.
The charges read that “You Dandy Eze, being the President of the Path of Peace Initiatives, and Solomon Johnson, on or about November 23, 2018, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, solicited the sum of N50m only as bribe in order to facilitate the withdrawal of a petition written against Wahum Nigeria Limited from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“That you, Dandy Eze, being the President of the Path of Peace Initiatives, and Solomon Johnson, on or about November 26, 2018, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did accept the sum of N1m as bribe through the First Bank account number 3081329952 operated by Solomon Johnson from Wahum Nigeria Limited in order to facilitate the withdrawal of a petition written against Wahum Nigeria Limited from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”
Meanwhile, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, the prosecuting counsel, George Chia-Yakua, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.
But the counsel for the defendants, Terry Adeniji, told the court that he had just been briefed about the case.
Adeniji, however, demanded the court for a short date to enable him to file a proper bail application.
He also prayed the court to remand the defendants in the EFCC custody.
In his response, Chia-Yakua urged the court to refuse the prayer of the defence counsel to remand the defendants in the EFCC custody.
The presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Dada, adjourned the matter till February 14 and 15, 2019 for the hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial while the suspects are remanded in prison custody
