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.

Oba Abdulraheem     Chief Of Staff     Igosun     Alliance For Democracy     Yusuf Abdulraheem     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Ibrahim Akaje     Idowu Aremu     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     Prince Sunday Fagbemi     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     Ahmad Ali     Habeeb Saidu     11th Galadima     Share     Abdulrahman Abdulrazak     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Baba Issa Awoye     Otunba Taiwo Joseph     Bature Bello     Ishaq Abdulkarim     George Innih     Sam Onile     Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez     LAK Jimoh     David Adesina     Radio SBS     Lukman Adeloyin     Hamza Usman     Oyelere Oyinloye     Towoju     Sun Qing Rong     Oluronke Adeyemi     Folorunsho Erubu     Okin Malt     Taofik Abdulkareem     Kwara Politics     Adesoye     Olufolake Abdulrazaq     Manzuma     Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke     07039448763     Chikanda     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     Mahe Abdulkadir     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin     Bilikisu Oniyangi     Ilorin Durbar     Mohammed Saidu     Sulyman Buhari     Shehu Adaramaja     Risikat Lawal     Alaiye     Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited     Adamu Attah     Benin Republic     Sobi     Magaji Nda     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Economic And Financial Crimes Commission     Segun Abifarin     Mutawalle     Shola Odetundun     Aminat Ahmed     Abubakar Ndakene     UTME     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     S.O. Opowoye     Kishira     Salake     Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa     Bukola Ajikobi     Roseline Oni Aremu     April 11     Isaac Gbenle     Tunde Saad    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao     Quareeb Islamic Association     Wale Oladepo     Kayode Zubair     John Olajide Adedipe     Tunji Ajanaku     Salihu S. Yaru     Suleiman Ajadi     Benin Republic     Muhammed Akanbi     Senate President     Kwara State Pension Board     A.O. Belgore     Cornelius Adebayo     Ibraheem Adeola Katibi     Onilorin     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Gani Saadu     Elerinjare     Kwara Polytechnic     Afetu Of Alabe     Adamu Atta     Mohammed Abduraheem     Ojo Fadumila     ANCOPPS     Balogun-Ojomu     Hakeem Lawal     Ballah     Oni Adebayo     Owo Isowo     Council Of The Wise     Arca Santa     Abdulhakeem Amao     Ayedun     Ebola     Bola Shagaya     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     Sheriff Olanrewaju     Toyin Falola     Voices Of Tomorrow     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Sunset Workers     Baakini     Mohammed Lawal     Toyosi Thomas     Olaosebikan     Bukola Ajikobi     Orisun Igbomina     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     NSCIA     Iyaloja-General     Olam Food Ingredients     Aishatu Ahmed Gobir     Kwara State University Of Education     Isiaka Alikinla     Bola Tinubu     Abdullah Janet Amudat     Jide Oyinloye     Jimoh Bashir     Musbau A. Akanji     Abubakar Usman Jos     Offa Metropolitan Club     Moro     Adeniyi Ojo     Aisha Ahman-Pategi     Atunwa     Biliaminu Aliu     Jimoh Saadudeen Muhammed     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     State Bureau Of Internal Revenue     Kubra Kazum     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     Ilorin Talaka Parapo     KFA     Fola Consultant     Abubakar Abdulraheem     Gurei