NIGERIA: ICPC Rebukes Contractor’s Failed Bid To Block Prosecution In $65 Million Money Laundering Case

By Onaoja Baba, Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has described as baseless and frivolous the failed attempt by Mr. Tarry Rufus, a contractor, to block his prosecution in a $65 million money laundering case.

This scathing rebuke came in a press release issued today, Monday, December 9, 2024, by Demola Bakare, fsi, the Director of Public Enlightenment and Education and Spokesperson for the Commission.

A Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, dismissed Mr. Rufus’s application seeking to stop the ICPC and other agencies from prosecuting him for his alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for developing 962 residential units in Kubwa District of Abuja.

Mr. Rufus, who heads Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited, faces prosecution alongside Mr. Gimba Kumo Ya’u, former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), and Mr. Bola Ogunsola, its former Executive Director.

Presiding over the case, Honourable Justice Yilwa H. Joseph declared that the evidence provided by the ICPC established a prima facie case of alleged misappropriation. She dismissed Rufus’s claims of illegal detention, ruling that his inability to meet bail conditions could not be construed as a violation of his fundamental rights.

The court also criticized Rufus’s attempt to portray himself as a victim, pointing out the lack of evidence to substantiate his claims of unlawful detention. Justice Joseph emphasized that the ICPC acted within its statutory duties, and no credible argument was presented to impede the Commission’s investigation.

In its press release, the ICPC lambasted Rufus’s legal maneuver as a deliberate attempt to derail justice. According to Bakare, the Commission has robust statutory authority to investigate allegations of corruption, and its actions in this case were conducted with due diligence and transparency.

The ICPC had earlier accused Mr. Rufus and his company of engaging in money laundering, alleging that they converted over ₦991 million into $3.55 million and handed it to one Jason Rosamond in cash, a clear violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Despite his vehement denials, Rufus had voluntarily participated in the ICPC’s investigations, during which suspicious cash flows from his company’s accounts came to light.

Bakare further ridiculed Rufus’s demand for ₦500 million in damages from the ICPC, EFCC, and FMBN for what he termed “frivolous criminal persecution.” The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to holding accountable those who misuse public funds, stating that such distractions would not deter its resolve.

With this court ruling, the ICPC has been empowered to proceed with its prosecution of Rufus and his accomplices, underscoring its relentless pursuit of justice and accountability in the fight against corruption.