AFederal High Court in Abuja has rejected the no-case submission made by a House of Representatives member, Nicholas Mutu being tried with two others on money laundering-related charges.

Mutu representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State is, along with two others – Airworld Technologies Ltd, and Oyien Homes Ltd – accused of laundering about N320million.

Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, in a ruling on Monday, January 22, ordered Mutu and his co-defendants to enter their defence as they have a case to answer in respect of the allegations made against them in the 13-count amended charge on which they are being tried.

Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo held that the prosecution has adduced sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the three defendants to warrant their being called upon to enter a defence.

The judge adjourned till February 21 and 22 for the defendants to open their defence.

Mutu, described as the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives, who has maintained his seat since he was first elected in 1999, was said to have committed the alleged offences between August 2014 and August 2016 when he served as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

In the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/123/2019 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that Mutu, while being the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, between August 2014 and August 2016 “did procure Airworld Technologies Ltd to conceal of the sum of N320,159, 689.63 to be paid by Starline Consultancy Services Ltd when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N320, 159, 689.63 formed part of proceeds of corruption, gratification and fraudulent acquisition of property.”

While opposing the no-case submissions, prosecuting lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho argued that the money paid to the defendants by Starline Consultancy, a contractor to NDDC, amounted to gratification

Iheanacho added that Mutu, used his official position, as the Chairman of House Committee on NDDC, to accept the various sums of money paid by the NDDC contractor.

The prosecuting lawyer contended that Mutu’s alleged conduct violated both the provision of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) Act and the Code of Conduct for public officers, which constitute predicate offences to the money laundering offence for which he was being prosecuted. (The Nation)