The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Dr Fortunate Fi­beresima, a former Chief Ex­ecutive Officer, State House Medical Centre, Abuja during the administration of former President Good­luck Jonathan before Justice Peter O. Affen of the Fed­eral Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja on a six-count charge of money laundering.
Fiberesima allegedly abused his position as the Chief Physician to the Presi­dent in 2012 in awarding contract to a company where he has interests.
The defendant, who also parades himself as Fortu­nate David and David Thank God Fiberesima, was ini­tially meant to be docked by the EFCC on March 7, 2017 when the trial judge observed that “all charges are under the ICPC Act not that of the EFCC” and con­sequently ordered that the charge be either amended or transferred to the appropri­ate authorities for prosecu­tion.
At the resumed sitting yesterday, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him by the EFCC.
The counsel for the defen­dant, Mr U. B. Eyo, prayed to the court to grant his cli­ent bail on liberal terms. He added that the accused had no previous criminal record and he would always be available for trial.
Mr Y. Y. Tarfa, the counsel to EFCC, did not oppose the bail application.
Justice Affen ordered that the defendant should con­tinue on the bail condition earlier granted him by the EFCC, but added that the defendant should submit his international passport to the court registrar.-The Authority