- Ex-minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, who is currently facing a N650 million fraud trial, has decided to settle out of court
- The former minister is undergoing trial alongside Senator Ayo Adeseun and Chief Olanrewaju Otiti
- The trio are being tried for allegedly receiving N650 million cash from Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources
An embattled former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, who was charged with an alleged fraud of N650 million, has indicated her intention to enter into a plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Punch reports.
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NAIJ.com gathered that her lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), told the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday, February 6, that arrangements were being made for the refund of the N650 million.
The anti-graft agency had on January 16, 2018 arraigned Akinjide and two others for allegedly receiving N650 million cash from a former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.
The EFCC which claimed that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities added that Akinjide and others handled the N650m cash without going through any financial institution, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
Akinjide’s lawyer, Ayorinde, told the presiding judge, Justice Muslim Hassan, that his client intended to explore an amicable settlement of the case with the EFCC.
He said he had discussed his client’s intention with the counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, and pleaded that an adjournment be granted to allow the parties to discuss.
He said: “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.
“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, however, stated that the case before the court was not merely about the funds, as the EFCC had already recovered the N650 million.
According to him, the case before the court was rather about the nature of the funds and the manner the defendants handled them.
Others charged with Akinjide were Senator Ayo Adeseun and Chief Olanrewaju Otiti.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, said that the commission was able to recover crime related funds amounting to N473 billion in addition to $98,258,124.97; £294,851.82; €7,247,363.75; 443,400 Dirham and 70,500 Rand.
Magu also confirmed that identified whistle blowers, including the Osborne Towers, Ikoyi whistle blower were being paid timely to encourage other Nigerians buy into the policy.
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Source: Naija.ng