Ex-FCT Minister, Akinjide Arraigned Over N650m Fraud

YAHAYA IBRAHIM

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) on Tuesday docked a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Jumoke Akinjide before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly laundering the sum of N650 million.

She was arraigned alongside Senator Ayo Adeseun and Chief Olarenwaju Otiti, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

Also mentioned in the charge was a former petroleum minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke who was said to be at large.

Akinjide who was first arraigned before the Oyo Division of the Court was re-arraigned before Justice Muslim Sule Hassan, on a 24 count charge, following the transfer of the case to Lagos.

In the charge, the anti-graft agency, accused the former Minister and others of conspiring to directly take possession of N650 million, which they ought to have known forms parts of proceeds of an unlawful act.

The EFCC alleged that the accused persons received the money from Diezani in the build up to the 2015 general elections.

The money was said to be part of a larger sum of $115 million allegedly doled out by Mrs. Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

One of charges against the accused persons reads”That you, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke (still at large), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Senator Ayo Ademola Adeseun and Chief Olarenwaju Otiti on or about the 26th day of March, 2015, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to directly take possession of the N650, 000, 000.00 (Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act”.
But the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After their arraignment, Justice Hassan ordered that they should continue to enjoy the terms of the bail earlier granted to them by Justice J.O Abdul-Malik in Ibadan.