The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today re- arraigned a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide before a Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos for allegedly laundering the sum of N650 million.
Ms Akinjide, who was first docked before the Oyo State division of the court, was re-arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan in Lagos on a 24 count charge, following the transfer of the case file by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice Adamu Kafarati.
She was charged by anti-graft agency alongside a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is said to be at large.
Others named in the charge are Senator Ayo Adeseun and a Chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olarenwaju Otiti.
The Minister and her co-accused persons were all accused of conspiring to directly take possession of N650million, which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.
According to the EFCC, the accused persons allegedly received the money from Mrs. Alison-Madueke in the build- up to the 2015 general election.
The money was said to be part of a larger sum of $115 million allegedly doled out by Mrs. Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
However, they all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After their arraignment, Justice Hassan ordered that they should continue to enjoy the terms of the bail earlier granted to them by Justice J.O Abdul-Malik in Ibadan.
Justice Abdul-Malik had granted Mrs. Akinjide bail on self recognition for her cooperation with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission during investigation.
The court also granted bail to Otiti and Adeseun in the sum of N100m each and sureties in the like sum.
The court said that the surety must be a civil servant or public servant in a level of director.
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