A federal high court in Ibadan, on Thursday remanded
Olajumoke Akinjide, a former minister, in Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody
over alleged N650 million faud.
Joyce Abdulmaleek, the presiding judge, remanded her
alongside one Olajumoke Akinjide in custody.
Otiti along with Diezani Alison-Madueke, former
minister of petroleum; Ayoade Adeseun, as well as
Akinjide had earlier been arraigned on a 12-count
amended charge.
The charges were bordering on conspiracy, unlawful
conversion and stealing of N650 million in the build up
of the 2015 general elections.
At the resumed hearing, Rotimi Oyedepo, the
prosecution counsel, informed the court that the
commission had amended the charges against the
accused persons.
He prayed for the amended charges to be read.
The defence counsel, however, objected to the
amendments.
Bolaji Ayorinde, Michael Lana and Adeniyi Isola – all
part of the defence counsel team – argued that no
charge had ever been read to their clients before.
They said as a result of this, there was no cause for
any amendment.
The defence counsel also submitted that it was an
“irregularity” on the part of the prosecution to be
amending charges “not known to be existing.”
The judge, however, overruled them directing that the
charge sheet be read to them.
Akinjide and Otiti – two of the accused persons
present at the sitting — pleaded not guilty to the
charges.
Two of the defense counsels – Ayorinde and Lana – in
separate submissions, told the court that they were
withdrawing further appearance in the case.
They claimed the court had not been fair to their
clients and subsequently walked out of the court.
According to NAN, Akinjide had begun moves to
explore plea bargain arrangement with the EFCC.
The case was adjourned till July 6 to hear the
accused’s bail applications.
TheCable
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