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.

Fatimoh Lawal     Oloriegbe     Saadu Alanamu     Abdulrahman Iliasu     Maryam Ado Bayero     Lanre Olosunde     Local Government     Bisi Kristien     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Abdulrasheed Lafia     Tope Daramola     HYPPADEC     Idris Garuba     Eruku     Abegunde Goke     Abdulrazaq Akorede     Computer Based Test     Onilorin Of Ilorin     Haleeman Salman     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Lanwa     Musa Aibinu     Pategi     Alao Ayotunde     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Halidu Danbaba     Sabi     AIT Ilorin     Tunde Yusuf     Kwara State Television     Mohammed Kamaludeen     Tunji Moronfoye     Oye Tinuoye     Aminat Ahmed     Sunset Workers     Rotimi Oyedepo     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     IsDB     Offa Grammer School     Akeem Lawal     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Moses Adekanye     NIPOGA     Alabere     Akanji     Amuda Bembe     Bashirat Bola Bello     Joseph Daudu     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Peculiar Allowance     Sun Qing Rong     Kwara North     Toyin Saraki     Doyin Group     Saka Adeyemo     AGM Professional Services     Nurudeen Muhammed     Smart School     United Nigeria Airline     Gbenga Olawepo     Salau Kabiru Abdullahi     Abdullah Janet Amudat     Principal Private Secretary     Esinrogunjo     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     Okanlawon Taiwo     Talaka Parapo     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Moji Makanjuola     Olaitan Adefila     Funmilayo Mohammed     Vasolar Consultoria     Shaykh Luqman Jimoh     Olusin Of Ijara Isin     Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa     Umar Sanda Yusuf    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Yusuf Lanre Badmas     IEDPU     Lateef Alagbonsi     Idiagbon     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     SWAN     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Salami Adekunle     Curfew     Kale Bayero     Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat     Kehinde Boyede     Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen     Rafiu Ajakaye     Ayegbeni     Forgo Battery Company Limited     Stephen Fasakin     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Lafiagi     Ayinke Saka     Woro     AbdulRahman Saad     Neuropsychiatric Hospital     Offorjama     Akorede     Monsurat Omotosho     Umaru Saro     AbdulHamid Adi     Okoolowo     Ilorin West     Alagbado     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     Okin High School     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Ado Ibrahim     Kwara Restoration Project     Pacify Labs     Ridwan Agboola     Tunde Akanbi     Alfa Belgore     Oloyede     S.O. Opowoye     Sidikat Akaje     Wahab Kunle Shittu     General Hospital, Offa     Kwara Hotel     Oko     Bature Bello     Ramat Oganija     Shehu Alimi Foundation     Opolo Global Innovation Limited     Hajj     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Kolawole Akande     Village Alive Development Association     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Riskat Opakunle     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Okin Biscuits     Tinubu     Rotimi Oyedepo     Kwara State Television (KWTV)     TETFUND     Ndakene     Plat Technologies Limited     Okiki     Omar Bolaji Gambari     Apaokagi     Olatunde Olukoya     Wahab Egbewole     Rashidi Yekini     Iliasu     Balogin Alanamu     PharmAccess Foundation     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     Musa Yeketi