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.

Oloriegbe     Tunde Yusuf     Vishvas KOZ Tractors     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Wahab Femi Agbaje     Issa Baba     Owo Arugbo     CELF     Vasolar Consortium     Raymond Olaitan     Sola Saraki Educational Foundation     Logun     Ike Ekweremadu     Ayedun     Shehu Adaramaja     Age AbdulKareem     Goodluck Jonathan     Woro     Aliyu Muyideen     Maryam Ado Bayero     Joseph Bamigboye     Ibrahim Taiwo Road     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem     Balogun Fulani     Gamji Members Association     Summit University     Olawuyi     Bello Bature     Salaudeen Oyewale     Kwara Politics     Tunji Oyawoye     TIIDELab     General Hospital     Makama Of Kaiama     A.O. Belgore     Ayobami Akanbi     NSCIA     Sobi Specialist Hospital     Kwara TV     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     Yahaya A Paniyaro     Maimunat Oloriegbe     Kwara State University Of Education     Salary     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     Joseph Alex Offorjama     3MTT     Col. Ibrahim Taiwo     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Iyeru Grammar School     Babaita     Alimi     Elese Of Igbaja     MAI Akande     Plat Technologies Limited     General Hospital, Offa     Lanre Badmas     National Party Of Nigeria     Nurudeen Mohammed     Adanla-Irese     Split Diamond Interchange     Wasiu Odewale     Adesoye     Ilorin Metro Park     George Funsho Adebayo     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Monsurat Omotosho     GRA     Shola Odetundun     Old Oyo     Amina El-Imam     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     CACOVID Palliatives     Yusuf Abubakar     Bamidele Aluko     Sunday Otokiti     Omu Aran    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Women Radio     Abdulquawiy Olododo     ASUU     Mutawali     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Bolakale Kawu Agaka     Abdulquowiyu Olododo     Alabere     Assayomo     Ramadhan     Raheem Adaramaja     Niyi Ogundiran     Government High School Adeta     Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     John Kehinde Salako     Tinubu     Hameed Oladipupo Ali     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Simeon Ajibola     Afonja     Oniwasi Agbaye     Toyin Sanusi     Baakini     Ibraheem Adeola Katibi     Oyedepo     Sobi FM     Ibrahim Agboola Gambari     Tanke Road     CACOVID     Offa Metropolitan Club     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Ibrahim Orire     Saraki     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Abubakar Baba Sulaiman     Quareeb     Olokoba     Alabi Olayemi Abdulrazak     Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate     Saliu Ajibola Ajia     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     Paul Olawoore     Yakubu Gobir     KWASIEC     Baruten     Alabi Lawal     Sheikh Ariyibi     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     MINILS     LEAH Charity Foundation     TIC     Noah Yusuf     Oloriegbe     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Funmilayo Mohammed     Kwarareports.com     Wole Oke     Earlyon Technologies     Oniwa     Gurei     Suleiman Idris     Mohammed Yisa     Quarry Royal Valley     Taofeek Sanusi     Amosa     Maigida Soludero Transit     Jide Oyinloye     Opobiyi     Olatunde Olukoya     Saadu Alanamu     Shoprite     Umar Yakubu Jaja     Adamu Atta     Idofin     Ayoade Akinnibosun