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.

Bashiru Makama     Omotosho     April 11     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Kwara State University Of Education     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     Osinbajo     Medview Airlines     Yakubu Shaaba     College Of Health     Mohammed Abdulahi     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Baba Adini Of Kwara State     Nurudeen Mohammed     Shonga     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Kola Olota     Kwara Polytechnic     Bisi Kristien     Moshood Bakare     Bayo Lawal     Toyosi Thomas     Abdulrosheed Okiki     AbdulRahman Saad     Saheed Alakoso     Muhammad Yahya     Innocent Okoye     Yomi Adeboye     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar     Oyawoye     Ile Arugbo     Ayegbeni     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Suleiman Abubakar     Assayomo     Umar Ayinla Saro     Abdulwahab Oba     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Alloy Chukwuemeka     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Abdulazeez Arowona     Gobirawa     Oke-Ero     Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu     Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies     Toyin Abdullahi     Grillo     Bello Taoheed Abubakar     Abdulkarim Adisa     Amada Jidda     Shola Odetundun     Odolaye Aremu     NIRSAL     Omotoso     Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat     Abubakar Abdullahi Bata     Age AbdulKareem     Folaranmi Aro     Osuwa     Tunde Saad     Funmilayo Mohammed     Gbugbu     Akorede     Tosin Saraki     Oyedun Juliana Funke     Ademola Kiyesola     NIPR     Ajayi Okasanmi     Samuel Adedoyin     Ishaq Abdulkarim     Dele Momodu     Muhammadu Buhari     Oloruntoyosi Thomas     Babaita     Abdulraheem Olesin     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     Abdulfatah Ahmed    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Lanre Olosunde     Yakubu Dogara     Abdul-Rahoof Bello     Sola Saraki Educational Foundation     Aliyu Alhassan     Student Learning Support Helpline     Agor     Gobir Organization Foundation     Isiaka Oniwa     Tosho Yaqub     Sulyman Buhari     Baboko     Durosinlohun Atiku     Titus Ashaolu     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Sanitation Exercise     Ogbondoroko     Segun Ogunsola     Onilorin Of Ilorin     Aliyu Muyideen     National Democratic Congress     Yakub Ali-Agan     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Gbemisola Oguntimehin     Erubu     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     AbdulQowiy Olododo     SSA Youth Engagement     Adedeji Onimago     Olota Of Odo-Owa     Ibrahim Oniye     Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa     Timothy Olatunde Fadipe     Dorcas Afeniforo     Bashir Adigun     Eghe Igbinehin     AbdulKareem Yusuf Danhawa     Olugbense     Bilikisu Oniyangi     IHS     Makama     JAMB     Old Oyo     Owode Market     Isiaka Yusuf     Yekini Adio     Mufti Of Ilorin     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     John Olobayo     Adekunle David Dunmade     John Dara     Binta Sulyman     Raymond Olaitan     Ile Arugbo     Toyin Abdullahi     Agor Market     Ibrahim Abiodun     Fatimah Abdulkadir     Saeedat Aliyu     Kwara Poly     Samari     Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao     Sayomi     Taofeeq Olateju     Hassan Oyeleke     Sobi Specialist Hospital     Sheikh Alimi     Ibrahim Agboola Gambari     MMWG     Allocation     Hameed Oladipupo Ali     Innocent Okoye     A.O. Belgore     Ilota     Gobir     Simeon Sule Ajibola     Kazeem Gbolagade