N650m: Former minister opts for plea bargain with EFCC

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory charged with an alleged fraud of N650m has copped plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Jumoke Akinjide, through her lawyer, Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), told the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday that she is ready to refund the money.

The EFCC had on January 16, 2018 arraigned Akinjide and two others for allegedly receiving N650m cash from former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke in the run-up to the 2015 build-up general elections.

The funds, according to the commission, were proceeds of unlawful activities.

It claimed Akinjide and others got the N650m cash without going through any financial institution, which is contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

Charged along with Akinjide were Senator Ayo Adeseun and Olanrewaju Otiti.

The trio, however, pleaded not guilty to the 24 charges filed against them.

Wthe case was called on Tuesday,  Ayorinde told the presiding Justice Muslim Hassan that his client intended to settle the case with the EFCC.

He said he had discussed his client’s intention with the counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, and pleaded that an adjournment be granted to allow the parties to discuss.

“This matter is principally about the campaign funds of the 2015 elections in Oyo State and the people in the dock now were the principal hands that handled the funds, consequently, the PDP in Oyo State have unanimously taken a decision to refund the total sum N650m,” he said.

“In the light of the above, before the trial commences full-blown, we are imploring the court to allow parties to explore possible amicable settlement.”

Oyedepo confirmed that Ayorinde had approached him for settlement, adding that the case before the court was not just about the funds which the EFCC had already recovered.

He said the case before the court was rather about the nature of the funds and the manner the defendants handled them.

Akinjide and others were named in the widening $2.1 billion voted for arms purchase when former President Goodluck Jonathan was in office.