Saraki's cousin, Ex Kwara commissioner re-arraigned for alleged money laundering, contract scam

Date: 2021-11-23

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, re-arraigned the duo of Ope Saraki, a cousin to former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and a former Commissioner for Information in Kwara State, Olatunji Oyeyemi Moronfoye, on charges bordering on abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering.

The duo were re-arraigned on separate charges before Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court, Ilorin.

The case, which first started on May 13, 2015 before Justice A. O. Faji of the Federal High Court, Ilorin had suffered series of setbacks occasioned by transfer of the trial judges.

Ope Saraki, while being the Senior Special Assistant on Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, allegedly received a cash payment of N11,180,000.00 from one Kunle Adimula.

Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement said the sum exceeded the cash amount payable to an individual and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) and 16(1) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) of the same Act. Similarly, Moronfoye while being the Special Adviser on Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, allegedly committed procurement fraud by means of unlawful influence in the award of two contracts involving renovation of Ijagbo Primary Health Centre and supply of medical equipment to two hospitals in Kwara State. The alleged offence contravenes Section 58(4) and punishable under Section 58(5)(a) and (b) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

The two defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial.

But, Sulyman Abaya and Joshua Olatoke, SAN, representing Ope Saraki and Moronfoye urged the court to allow their clients to continue with the terms and conditions of the bail earlier granted them by the court.

Justice Sani after listening to the submissions by counsel admitted the defendants to bail on the terms earlier granted them by the first trial judge.

Justice Faji had on May 13, 2015 admitted Moronfoye and Saraki to bail in the sum of N50million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must produce "Certificate of Occupancy" of landed property within urban area of Ilorin and must swear to affidavit of means.

The sureties must also produce evidence of tax payment for three years. The accused persons must be reporting to EFCC Head Office, Abuja every three weeks and must notify EFCC whenever they intend to travel.

Justice Sani adjourned to February 16, 2022 for commencement of trial for Saraki and February 22, 2022 for Moronfoye.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Bukola Saraki     Ijakadi     Akanji     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Basit Olatunji     Aliyu Sabi     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Quranic Recitation Competition     Temi Kolawole     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Kwara North     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Adedipe     Peculiar Allowance     Sayomi     Bayo Ajia     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     NYSC     Joseph Daudu     Bayer AG     Adebayo Salami     Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi     Fatai Olodo     Maryam Nurudeen     Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone     Kehinde Baale     Oluronke Adeyemi     Amoyo     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Press Release     Hijab     Gbenga Awoyale     Ahmed Dankaya     Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu     Gbenga Olawepo     Yusuf Olaolu Ali     Jelili Yusuf     Moses Salami     Agbarere     Prince Bola Ajibola     Kishira     Femi Gbajabiamila     Elesie Of Esie     Doyin Agbamu     Oba Abdulrahim     Oke-Ogun     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     NIRSAL     Sunset Workers     Ilota     Shettima     Taofik Abiodun Ahmed     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Oloruntoyosi Thomas     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Gaa Olobi     Jebba     Gbemisola Saraki     Christopher Odetunde     Charles Ibitoye     Hassan Saliu     Yusuf Abubakar     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Economic And Financial Crimes Commission     Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists     Magaji Erubu     Salake     Isau     Wahab Isa     Ganmo     Kwara Basketball Association     Saheed Popoola     Rabiu Kwankwaso     Moshood Mustapha     Kamaldeen Kehinde    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Samuel Adaramola     Kisra     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Oko-Erin     AGF Abdulrazaq     Yusuf A. Usman     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Tunji Folami     Yahaya Muhammad     Dairo Kunle Paul     Mustapha Olanipekun     Abdulrazak Shehu Akorede     Daud Adeshola     Adeniyi Ojo     Kwara University Of Education     Durbar     Folorunsho Alao     ER-KANG Mining     Dunmade     Isiaka Oniwa     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     Sango-UITH Road     Ibrahim Gambari     Magaji Are     Ganiyu Abolarin     Esuwoye     Olateju Lukman     Shade Omoniyi     Elelu     Oluwarotimi Boluwatife Adenike     Lawal Olohungbebe     Radio Kwara     Lola Olabayo     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     Flights To Ilorin     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     KWASSIP     Abdulahi Abubakar Bata     Peter Amogbonjaye     Babatunde Ishola Babaita     Yakubu Dogara     Wole Oke     Barakat Community Secondary School     Edret Sabi Abel     Najim Yaasin     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Owo Arugbo     Presidential Election     Gbenga Awoyale     Fatimoh Lawal     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Kunle Okeowo     ASUU     Maigidasanma     Kwara 2023     Iqra Books     IF-K     Saudat Abdulbaqi     Tanke Flyover Bridge     James Ayeni     Ebola     AbdulRazaq AbduMajeed Alaro     Adanla-Irese     Kazeem Oladepo     Dumagi     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Abdulquawiy Olododo     Kawu Baraje     Salihu Ajia     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu     Yusuf Abdulkadir     Kamoru Kadiri     Doyin Agbamu     Olomu Of Omu-Aran