N450m Maduekegate: Ex-Minister, PDP chieftains know fate Feb 13

A former Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State,  Mr. Raymond Dabo and the Cordinator of Jonathan/Sambo re-election campaign in Plateau State, Evangelist Lyons Sunday Jatau, will on February 13 know whether they will be committed to prison for embezzling N450 million belonging to the Federal Government.

The trio are being arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission at a Federal High sitting in Jos, the Plateau state capital on charges of receiving the money from the former Minister of Petroleum,  Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, to finance the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy.

The development came at a time the former Governor Jonah Jang is also being investigated by the anti graft agency.

At the first hearing of the suit, Ochekpe had told trial Justice Justice Musa Haruna Kurya that she gave the money to the late PDP governorship candidate in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Plateau GNS PWAJOK.

 Though they were granted  on self-recognition and the case was adjourned to February 13th, 14th, 2018 to determine the veracity of their submission.

In a suit filed by Federal Government of Nigeria Vs Sarah Ochekpe, Raymond Dabo and Lyon Sunday Jatau, the prosecution counsel, Barrister A Yusuf Muchaka told the trio breached their trust by receiving money knowing that it was illegal.

In an affidavit sworn to by Olayaika Rotimi an operative with EFCC in compliance with administration of criminal justice, the two  charges bordering on criminality was dated the 13th December 2017 after thorough investigation.

He relied on section 379, subsection 1 of the criminal act, A, B filed with the list of witnesses statement, witness under section 379 subsection 1 A, page 3 and was also filed with written documents attached as administration of criminal justice.

According to the prosecution counsel, Muchaka the motion was served on the 18/01/2018 applied to tender same before the honourable court as endorsement issue evidence is also attached.

He urged the court to accept the two count charges.

The Prosecution counsel application was granted by Justice, Musa Haruna Kurya when the registrar of the court reads their charges each, accused of money laundering of receiving cash of N450 million through Mrs. Diezani Alison Maduke.

The suit is expected to elicit high drama as the family of Pwajok is drawing swords over the claim by the defendants that they gave the money to their late son.

Indeed a source close to the family said that they are contemplating a fresh suit against the defendants.