$40m scam: Azibaola’s wife regains freedom from Kuje prison

The wife of the embattled Chief Executive Officer of Oneplus Nigeria Limited and cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Stella Azibaola, on Wednesday, has regained her freedom from Kuje prison.

Stella who had already spent one week in prison with her husband, Robert, was released after she perfected the bail conditions that were handed to her by trial Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

She returned home to the warm embrace of her children, family members and friends who have been keeping vigil in their Maitama home since June 8 when she was remanded alongside her husband.

The couple are answering to a seven-count criminal charge bordering on alleged $40million contract scam.

Robert Azibaola and his wife Robert Azibaola and his wife Robert Azibaola and his wife
Specifically, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alleged that the defendants received a $40million contract from the detained former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, retd.

The anti-graft agency alleged that they conspired “to commit an illegal act to wit: money laundering of the sum of $40million transferred to the domiciliary account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited with Zenith Bank, Account No. 5070365750 from the account of ONSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria upon a mandate Ref. No. 128/S.5LX/139 purporting to be for the supply of Tactical Communication Kits for Special Services and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.Meanwhile, though Stella regained her freedom on Wednesday, her husband is yet to fulfil his own bail conditions.

Robert’s brother, Faith, said last night that family was working hard to meet the bails terms which he said were very stringent.

He said while they would appeal to the trial judge to vary the bail conditions they had no reason to take up issues with the EFCC, as the matter is now within the discretion of the court.

“We know that the judge is an independent judicial officer and can as well vary the bail conditions based on available circumstances at hand,” Robert’s brother said last night.

Justice Dimgba had in a ruling on June 8 granted the defendants who are facing trial alongside their firm, Oneplus Holding Limited, bail to the tune of N1billion.

They were directed to deposit N500million each, as well as produce two sureties in the like sum.

The court maintained that the sureties must be owners of landed properties in either Maitama or Asokoro Districts of Abuja and must produce evidence that they paid income tax for the past three years.

It stressed that the registry of the court must verify and confirm that all the conditions were perfected before the defendants could be released from Kuje prison.