EFCC arraigns Saraki’s aide, others for alleged N3.5b fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Senate President Bukola Saraki’s Deputy Chief of Staff Gbenga Makanjuola at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged N3.5billion fraud.

He and three others were arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi on 11-counts of money laundering.

They were accused of conspiring to disguise the unlawful origin of N3.5billion paid into the account of Melrose General Services Limited.

The company was also arraigned.

EFCC said Melrose General Services and Robert Mbonu, said to be at large, between December 14, 2016 and last January “took control” of the money transferred from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) account to Melrose’s Access Bank account numbered 0005892453.

The commission said they reasonably ought to have known that the money represented proceeds of their unlawful and fraudulent activity.

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The alleged offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3).

Melrose was accused of involvement in the alleged N19billion Paris Club scam.

EFCC is accusing the defendants of allegedly converting N3.5billion of N19billion London-Paris Club refund to states.

The company had denied involvement in any fraud, saying it was legitimately engaged by the NGF to render services leading to a refund of foreign loan over-deductions made by the states.

EFCC had claimed in a previous forfeiture proceedings that Melrose General Services, whose alter ego is Robert Mbonu, was never engaged by the NGF for any consultancy services in relation to the Paris and London Club loan refund.

The commission claimed that the company allegedly recopied and misinterpreted work done by another consortium to the NGF for payment.

EFCC said Melrose was paid N3.5billion by the NGF on December 14, 2016, and that it moved out about N2.2billion of the N3.5billion, the balance of which the commission had prayed the court to order its forfeiture.

In count 5 of the charge, Makanjuola was accused of making a cash payment of N50million to Mbonu on December 20, 2016 without going through a financial institution.

The alleged offence is punishable under Section 1 (a) of the Money Laundering Act and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b).

EFCC’s lawyer Ekene Iheanacho prayed that the defendants be remanded in prison; he sought for a trial date.

Makanjuola’s lawyer Paul Erokoro (SAN) said his client had a pending bail application.

Moving it, he said Makanjuola was a former House of Representatives member and was prepared to face his trial.

“My client is a full-time staff at the Senate and is not a flight risk. He was a member of the House of Representatives.

“I urge the court to grant him bail to prepare for his trial,” the SAN said.

But, Iheanacho urged the court to dismiss the bail applications, arguing that the defendants would run away if granted bail.

“One of the defendants has absconded. The chances that the other defendants will abscond are now higher with their arraignment.

“We urge the court to refuse their bail requests,” he said.

Justice Kuewumi adjourned until October 9 for ruling on the bail applications.