Contract money paid to Saraki's cousin not bribe - Contractor

Date: 2021-06-30

THE trial of a former special assistant to the Kwara State governor on Millennium Development Goals, Ope Saraki, resumed on Tuesday with the third prosecution witness, Dr Adeyeye Abiodun, revealing how the defendant introduced him to Chemiroy Nigeria Limited.

The witness also apoke on how both agreed to refurbish 13 Toyota Hiace buses and converted them to ambulances.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ilorin zonal office, is prosecuting Saraki on two counts bordering on contract scam before Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

Saraki, a cousin to the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, is being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly procuring a contract to the tune of N220m through Chemiroy Nigeria Limited, a company in which he had interest.

The contract involved the purchase of 13 units of ambulances for General/Specialist Hospitals in Kwara State.

The offence, according to the prosecution, is contrary to Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, ICPC, Act, 2000.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Adeyeye while being led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, narrated how the job was executed and delivered to Chemiroy Nigeria Limited.

Adeyeye said, "My Lord, I know the defendant. His name is Mr. Ope Saraki. My company bid for a contract for purchase and supply of 13 ambulances for the Kwara State Government, but was later awarded to a company called Chemiroy Nigeria Limited after I had submitted all relevant documents and participated in the bidding process.

"I expressed my disappointment in Mr. Ope Saraki, who happened to be my friend since our university days. The defendant later introduced me to Chemiroy Nigeria Limited and we both agreed that I should equip the 13 purchased Toyota Hiace and convert it to ambulances.

"We agreed to equip one at the sum of N3m. At a point, funds stopped coming from Chemiroy, I now approached Mr Saraki for loan. We finished the job and delivered to Chemiroy. We paid back the loan. While some were paid through bank transfer, some were paid to the defendant in cash."

Under cross-examination by Saraki's counsel, Sulyman Abaya, the witness admitted paying money to the politician, but said "the money was never a bribe or gratification."

Justice Akinpelu adjourned the case till September 23, 2021 for continuation of hearing.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Kemi Adeosun     Roseline Oni Aremu     Habeeb Saidu     NTA Ilorin     Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria     Oladipo Akanmu Tolani     Ayobami Akanbi     Vishvas KOZ Tractors     Elerin Of Adanla Irese     Gbenga Adebayo     Olabanji Orilonishe     Ilorin Water Reticulation     MATTA Girls Foundation     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Idiagbon     Nigeria Customs Service     Abdulfatai Baakini     Ahmad Lawan     Oloje     Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union     Valsolar Consortium     Tsado Manman     Yusuf Amuda Gobir     Olugbense     Sheikh Ridhwanullah El-ilory     Matthew Okedare     Bayo Lawal     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Veterinary Teaching Hospital     Christopher Ayeni     Maigida Soludero Transit     Sa\'adu Salau     A.E. Afolabi     UNIFEMGA     Yahaya Muhammad     QuickWin     Ilorin Emirate     Plat Technologies     Mohammed Yahaya Barki     Olusegun Adeniyi     Musa Yeketi     Kehinde Boyede     Mohammed Haruna     Kola Adesina     Quareeb     Sarakite     UNILORIN Alumni     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Olatunji Ayeni     Balogun Gambari     Oke-Ero     Laolu Saraki     TESCOM     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     Ayinde Oyepitan     Abdulrasheed Lafia     CBT     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Elewu     Frootify     Mufutau Olatinwo     NFAI     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     FERMA     20 Billion Bond     Yusuf Olaolu Ali     Amosa     Olaiya Lawal     General Hospital     Federal Allocation     Kazeem Adekanye     Adisa Logun     Mufti Of Ilorin     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     Babaloja-General     Labaeka    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

A.O. Belgore     Abdulwaheed Musa     Tanke Flyover Bridge     Bayo Ojo     Joseph Offorjama     Assayomo     Babatunde Ishola Babaita     Erin-ile     Yusuf Lanre Badmas     Kwara Liberation Group     C2c@kwarastate.gov.ng     Women Radio     Jimba Babatunde     Olatunji Bamgbola     Fatimoh Lawal     Wale Oladepo     Haliru Yahaya     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Kwarareports.com     Abdulmajeed Wahab     Ilorin Emirate Staff Association     Ayinde Oki     Barakat Community Secondary School     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     TVC Female National Debate     Ibrahim Bio     Emmanuel Bello     Oya State     Amada Jidda     Abubakar Abdulraheem     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     Olatunji Moronfoye     Umar Bayo Abdulwahab     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Lotus Bank     Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi     Bukola Saraki     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Sanitation Exercise     Mahe Abdulkadir     Shururat Olatinwo     Salman Suleiman     Tinubu     Noah Yusuf     Aliyu Muhammed     Ibrahim Mohammed     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     HYPPADEC     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Gani Saadu     Nupe     Olufolake Abdulrazaq     AGM Professional Services     YAKOOYO     Bello Taoheed Abubakar     Durosinlohun Atiku     Yeketi     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Harafat E. Mukadam     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     Isiaka Danmeromu     Yemi Osinbajo     NAWOJ     Sa\'adatu Modibbo-Kawu     Ajakaye     Firdaos Amasa     Issa Oloruntogun     UTME     Adamu Attah     Senate Presidency     Elections     Mujtabah Bature     Saheed Akinwumi     Budo Egba     Kwara Teaching Service Commission