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.

Umar Bayo Abdulwahab     Ubandoma Of Ilorin     Aishat Mohammed Lawal     Overland     Oke-Odo     Saka Aleshinloye     Democracy Day     Tunde Akanbi     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Yaru     Olateju Lukman     Kwara TV     Okin Group     Isiaka AbdulRazaq     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     SARS     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Ishola Balogun Fulani     Jide Ashonibare     Iliasu     Quareeb Islamic Association     Maryam Nurudeen     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     SSA Youth     Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen     Dauda Adeniran Adeshola     Mary Arinde     Laboratory-to-Product     Senior Special Assistant On Student Affairs     Academic Staff Union Of Universities     Abdulrasheed Akogun     Adebara     Ilorin Muslim Community     Aliyu U. Tilde     Oye Tinuoye     Idris Amosa Oladipo Saidu     Royal FM     Kwara State Government     Mumeen Lah     Oniye     Buari Edun     Pilgrims Board     KFA     Mohammed Halidu     CKNG     Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies     Olohungbebe     Isiaka Danmeromu     Harrison Osauwagboe     Amoyo     Kwara State Fire Service     Tafida     Abdullateef Abdussalam     Kehinde Boyede     Yeketi     Awili Pedro     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Unicontinental Construction Company     Agbarere     Leke Ogungbe     Abubakar Usman Jos     Fatimoh Lawal     Suleiman Mora Omar     PPS     CELF     Ibrahim Mohammed     Ola Falade     Yakub Ali-Agan     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     International Vocational Centre     Ibrahim Mashood     Tunji Oyawoye     Federal Allocation     Amada Jidda     Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao     2017 Budget     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Moshood Mustapha     Yakubu Dogara     Ayinke Saka     Tsado Manman     Abdullahi Samari     Khairat Gwadabe     Falokun-Oja     Omotoso     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     ASUU     Sherif Sagaya     Binta Abubakar-Mora     Ojuekun     FERMA     Jani Ibrahim     Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Saka Isau     Ghali Muhammed     Yahya Mohammed     Nigerian Correctional Service     Abubakar Abdullahi Bata     KWASAA     Rotimi Atere     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem     Mogaji Aare     Onilorin     Michael Nzwekwe     Seni Saraki     Olatunde Olukoya     Onilu     Adamu Attah     Babaloja-General     Mohammed Abduraheem     Ajikobi     Tunji Folami     Gurei     Ayo Adeyemi     Ayodele Olaosebikan     Ajibola Ademola Julius     Shade Omoniyi     Fatai Garuba Labaka     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     Ndama Al-hassan     Hamza Usman     Wole Oke     Harafat E. Mukadam     Islamiya Abdulraheem     Salihu Alhaji Musa     Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon     Issa Memunat Moyosore     Sanusi Abubakar     Ishola Abdullahi     Abdullateef Abdussalam     ASMAU PLAZA     Senate Presidency     Code Of Conduct Bureau     Iliasu     Ayinde Oki     Dan Iya Of Ilorin     Kunle Okeowo     Firdaos Amasa     Kaiama     Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi     Wahab Abayawo     NIRSAL     Babs Iwarere     KFA     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Matthew Okedare     Quareeb     State Bureau Of Internal Revenue     Baakini     Bola Tinubu     John Dara