EFCC arraigns ex-FCT minister, Akinjide for N650m fraud

Akinjide was arraigned alongside Senator Ayo Adeseun and Chief Olanrewaju Otiti before the Federal High Court in Lagos. The EFCC, in the 24 charges filed against the defendants, alleged that they collected the sum of N650m from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 general elections. The anti-graft agency claimed that they ought to have “reasonably known that the money formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act.” Counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, said they acted contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012, and were liable to punishment under Section 15(3) and 4 of the same Act. The anti-graft agency claimed that they ought to have “reasonably known that the money formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act.” Akinjide was said to have allegedly given a cash sum of N107.4m to Otti and N134.4m to Adeseun out of the N650m on March 26, 2015. She also allegedly gave N26.5m cash to one Ayoka Lawani; N56.4m to one Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha; N28.6m to one Honourable Muraina Ajibola; N16m to one Honourable Yinka Taiwo and N10.7m to one Prince Ayuba. Counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, said the cash payments exceeded the threshold stipulated by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012. He said Akinjide, Adeseun and Otiti acted contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012, were liable to punishment under Section 15(3) and 4 of the same Act.]]>