Ex-minister, senator charged with ‘N650m fraud’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), yesterday re-arraigned former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jumoke Akinjide, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly laundering N650million.

Akinjide was charged alongside Senator Ayo Adeseun, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart Chief Olanrewaju Otiti and former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was said to be at large.

The defendants are standing trial on a 24-count charge before Justice Muslim Hassan.

They were accused of conspiring to obtain the 650m from Mrs Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

According to the EFCC, they reasonably ought to have known “that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.”

At yesterday’s proceeding, EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the agency had an amended 24-count charge and urged the court to admit same as their charge in the suit.

He said Akinjide, Adeseun and Otiti acted contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012.

The amended charge was not opposed by the defence team, following which Justice Hassan ordered the registrar to take the plea of the defendants.

Trial commences on February 5, 6, 13 and 14.

 

 

 

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