Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the federal government to tender, Thursday, the sum of one million, thirty thousand dollars allegedly recovered from Air Commodore Umar Mohammed (rtd) before the court.

Justice Ekwo gave the order on Wednesday after the currencies, stashed in three bags, were counted with a counting machine at the office of the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) of the court as directed by the judge.

Mohammed (1st defendant) and his company, Easy Jet Integrated Service Ltd (2nd defendant) are faced with a three-count charge bordering on money laundering, illegal possession of firearms and possession of classified documents without lawful authority.

At the resumed hearing, counsel for the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), S. M. Labaran, told the court that the matter was adjourned for continuation of trial and that the witness was in court.

The first prosecution witness, Stephen Olatubosun, a staff of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), was asked to enter the witness box.

Justice Ekwo then asked the AGF’s lawyer how many bags of currencies he will be tendering before the court based on the last proceeding in the matter, and Labaran said ”three bags.”

When the judge asked him how many currencies were contained in the three bags, he said: “There are different currencies up to about four or five my Lord.”

Justice Ekwo, therefore, made an order that the currencies be counted outside the courtroom but within the court premises.

The judge held that the money be tendered after it has been counted and the amount ascertained.

He said that the currencies be counted in the presence of counsel for the prosecution and defendants, Labaran and Dr Hassan Liman, SAN, respectively

.“For that to be done, the currencies shall be counted at the office of the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) of the court and all the parties shall sign on the amount that has been arrived at after counting,” he ruled.

Meanwhile, count one of the charge reads: “That you, Air Commodore Umar Mohammed (rtd), 54 years, male and Easy Jet Integrated Services Ltd on or about 19th June, 2016, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, received the sum of one million, thirty thousand American Dollars ($1,030,000) in cash from Worldwide Consortium PTY Ltd, as payment for freight services, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b ) of the Money Laundering Act 2011 (as Amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4) of the same Section of the Act.”

The defendant is also being charged for possession of two pump action guns without valid licences contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, 2004,. and for having in his possession classified/official documents without lawful authority contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Official Secrets Act Cap. O3 LFN, 2004.

Justice Ekwo then adjourned the matter until March 25 for continuation of trial.