Former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Umar, has commenced an out-of-court negotiation on the money laudering charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Umar’s lawyer, Hassan Liman initiated the move for settlement during his trial at an Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday.

The former Airforce boss is currently facing a seven-count charge of laundering N4.8 billion while he served as the Chief of Air Staff.

Prior to now, he had pleaded not guilty charges against him.

According to Liman, Umar had previously met with officials of the EFCC.

Present at the meeting was the head of the legal department of the commission, the prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, EFCC’s task force, Ibrahim Musa.

Umar was thereafter asked by the anti-graft agency to send a formal letter to the EFCC -which he had sent to the EFCC chairman on June 6.

On his part, the prosecuting counsel acknowledged the development, saying, “I also confirm that there were meetings between the defendant and the commission where I was also in attendance.”

In her ruling, the trial judge, Justice Nyako said the trial will continue as the defendant was yet to meet the conditions of the trial.

The case was adjournced till June 16.

Mazi Emeka