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.

Sayomi     Akorede     Abdulrosheed Okiki     AbdulRazaq AbduMajeed Alaro     Hamza Usman     Asa     EndSARS     Mohammed Yahaya Barki     John Obuh     AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     3MTT     Shuaib Jawondo     Yaru     Ayodele Shittu     Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan     Ubandoma Of Ilorin     Kwara State Government     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Rapheal Ashaolu     Oke-opin     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Kunle Okeowo     Garba Ayodele Wahab     Alaiye     Otoge     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Olaitan Adefila     AGM Professional Services     Reuben Paraje     COVID     Nigeria Customs Service     RTEAN     Aliyu Umar     Veterinary Teaching Hospital     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Olokoba Sulyman     Guber Aspirant     Olusegun Adeniyi     Clara Nwachukwu     ASUU     Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro     Face Masks     Seed Technologies     African Democratic Congress     Dunmade     Hijaab     Galadiman Ngeri     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Atiku     Ariyo     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     Ganiyu Taofiq     Tafida     Tanke     Col. Adedipe     Kishira     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Jalala     Ilorin Anchor Men And Women     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     Al-Ilory     Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa     Isa Aremu     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Kwara 2019     Split Diamond Interchange     Iponrin     Mufti Of Ilorin     LEAH Charity Foundation     Omu-aran     MATTA Girls Foundation     James Ayeni     Oloje    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Garba Idris Ajia     N-Power     Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi     Isiaka Rafiu Mope     Ibrahim Labaika     Muhammad Ghali Alaaya     Rachael Obisesan     Atiku Abubakar     Ali Ahmad     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Olatunde Michaels     Abraham Ojo     Raliat Elelu-Habeeb     Quareeb Islamic Association     Umar Saro     Kazeem Oladepo     Okanlawon Musa     Dauda Adesola     Ibrahim Oniye     Ambassador Kayode Laro     Muhammad Yahya     Musibau Akanji     Aminu Adisa Logun     BECE     JUSUN     Mohammed Kamaludeen     Doyin Awoyale     Tanke Road     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Abdulkadir Jimoh     Wahab Femi Agbaje     Www.Kwarareports.com     Olugbense     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Erubu     Muslim Cementary     MMWG     Sodiya     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Tunji Moronfoye     John Obuh     Leke Ogungbe     Bayer AG     Olusegun Adeniyi     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Hassan Oyeleke     Salake     Katibi Ibraheem Adeola     Idi-Ape     Gbemisola Saraki     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Oloriegbe     Laolu Saraki     Shade Omoniyi     Illyasu Abdullahi     Isaac Gbenle     KW-GIS     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Kayode Issa     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     Mohammed Yahaya Barki     Mansurat Amuda-Kannike     Oladipo Akanmu Tolani     Egbejila     Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla     Umar Adelodun     Salman Alada     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     Abdulfatai Baakini     Boko Haram     Lanre Aremu     Ballah     Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa     Bisi Oyeleke     Hassan Saliu     Radio SBS     Tafida