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.

Abdulrasheed Lafia     Elesie Of Esie     Nigeria Customs Service     Bibire Ajape     Olatomiwa Williams     Mohammed Katsina Ahmed     All Peoples Party     Kwasu     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Olateju Lukman     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Ali Ahmad     Shehu Alimi Foundation     Gobir Organization Foundation     Aishat Mohammed Lawal     Oko-Olowo     Oke Sunna     Shao     Amos Bajeh     Omotoso     Funmilayo Oniwa     Durbar     Aasiyat Bello Oyedepo     Adama Isa     Khadijat Ayoola Yusuf     Laboratory-to-Product     Abdul Jimoh Mohammed     Ebola     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Amina El-Imam     Dapo Teni Nig Enterprise     Lanre Issa Onilu     Danhawa     Folorunsho Erubu     Sheikh Ridhwanullah El-ilory     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     Turaki     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Salake     Tsaragi     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     Abdulmutalib Shittu     Yoruba     Olatunji Ayeni     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Ijagbo Health Centre     Yahaya A Paniyaro     Raji AbdulRasaq     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi     Abubakar Abdulraheem     Yusuf Arowosaye     Opaleke Bukola Iyabo     Kunbi Titiloye     Sheikh Hamzat Yusuf Ariyibi     AbdulRazaq AbduMajeed Alaro     Theophilus Oyebiyi     UTME     Simeon Sule Ajibola     Ayedun     High Court     Tunji Folami     Salihu S. Yaru     Lithium     Idris Garuba     Hamid Bobboyi     ENetSuD     Ladi Hassan     Sola Saraki University     Code Of Conduct Bureau     Yakub Ali-Agan     Ilorin.Info     Doyin Agbamu     COVID-19 Palliatives     Muslim Cementary    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Orisa Bridge     PPS     Mohammed Saidu     Dagbalodo     Olofa Of Offa     REO CAKES     Yusuf Ali     Bello John Olanrewaju     Owo Arugbo     Isapa     Ndama Al-hassan     Osi     Saliu Ajia     Donatus Ejidike     Taibat Ayinke Ahmed     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Abdulrauf Aliyu     Playing Host     Lithium Deposit     Kunle Okeowo     Ibrahim Taiwo     Yetunde Balogun     JSSCE     Abdulrazaq Sanni     Owode Market     Saka Onimago     Dan Masanin     Sa\'adu Gambari     Christian Association Of Nigeria     BIR     Zara Umar     Oladimeji Thompson     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Fola Consultant     Towoju     Kamaldeen Gambari     Ilota     ITEM 7     A.E. Afolabi     Shuaibu Yaman     Okin Biscuit     TIC     Rafiu Olasile     Abdulazeez Uthman     Ekweremadu     Alao Ayotunde     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Budo-Egba     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Rapheal Ashaolu     Lanre Issa-Onilu     Babatunde Idiagbon     Yashikira     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     08001000100     Makama Of Kaiama     Labour Party     Azeez Bello     Jimoh Akani     Mahe Abdulkadir     Pakata Development Association     Saheed Popoola     Abraham Ojo     Eleja     Alaiye     Amuda Aluko     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Universal Basic Education Commission     Iyabo Adewuyi     Abdulrauf Yusuf     Rebecca Bake     GAMA     Oniwa     Smart School     Idi-Ape     College Of Health     Ilesha-Baruba