A prosecution witness, Olufemi Otulana, in the ongoing trial of a former Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Dr. Martins Femi Thomas, on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, told Justice A.O. Faji of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos how the defendant’s company fraudulently evaded tax over a period of time.
Thomas was re-arraigned along with one Kabiru Sidi, a Bureau de Change operator, on June 28, 2017, on an amended six-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of $2,198,900.
The defendants, who have been standing trial before Justice Faji in the same court on different charges, were alleged to have conspired with wife to the first defendant, Mr Martins, to make a cash payment of $2,198,900.00 to one Ibitoye Bamidele at their residence on 20, Lagos University Teaching Hospital Road, Idi-Araba, Lagos.
The second defendant, Sidi, allegedly lied to an EFCC investigator, Afeez Mustapha, that he was the owner of the said money involved in the transaction by first defendant and his wife.
One of the counts reads:
“That you, Dr Martins Femi Thomas (a.k.a. Dr. Ike), a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, and Mrs Femi Thomas (still at large) on or about the 3rd of July 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, procured Bamidele Ibitoye to move the sum of $2,198, 900.00 (Two Million One Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand , Nine Hundred United States Dollars) being proceeds of Dr Martins Femi unlawful enrichment as a former public officer and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 and punishable under Section 15(2) (c) and ( 3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011(as amended by Act. No.1 of 2012).”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the amended charges. Their counsel prayed the court to allow his clients to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted when they were first arraigned in 2016 before Justice Saliu Saidu.
Justice Faji granted the request and adjourned further proceedings till March 19, 20, and 21, 2019 for the continuation of trial.