From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday arraigned a businessman and ally of former petroleum minster, Diezani Allison-Madueke, Jide Omokore,  on a four-count of money laundering to the tune of N400 billion at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Other defendants to the charge are Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo, and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.
They were, however, admitted to bail by Justice Binta Nyako in the sum of N50 million each and a surety in the like sum, after entering a plea of not guilty.
Before then,  counsel to Omokore told the court that the charge was not ripe for hearing on the ground that, Kolawole Aluko Akanni, who is now at large, was not before the court among the defendants.
The counsel whose submission was adopted by all the defence counsel told the court the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) states that all defendants must be present in court in a criminal trial, and that in the instant case, Akanni must be present in court before the arraignment can go on.
He argued that as far as Aluko’s name was listed as one of the defendants, he ought to be served with the charge, arguing that there was no way a trial can proceed without serving Aluko, “because we don’t want our clients to be tried twice”