Court Remands Saraki’s Aide, Others Over Alleged N3.5bn Fraud
Justice Babs Kuewumi of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday remanded Gbenga Makanjuola, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and two others in prison over alleged N3.5 billion fraud.
Justice Kuewumi, ordered that Makanjuola and his co-accused, Obiorah Amobi be kept in prison after they were arraigned before him by the Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Melrose General Services Limited on an 11-count charge bordering on the alleged offence.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After their plea were taken, counsel to the EFCC, Ekene Iheanacho, urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison while also seeking for a trial date.
However, Makanjuola’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN) drew the court’s attention to his client’s bail application.
Erokoro stated that the application has been served on the prosecution and sought the court’s permission to move it.
Similar request was also made by Amobi’s lawyer, Omeoga Chukwu.
The duo later got the court’s nod to move the bail applications.
While arguing the bail application, Erokoro said his client was a former member of the House of Representatives and as such he is prepared to face his trial.
He said, “My client is a full-time staff at the Senate and is not a flight risk. He was a member of the House of Representatives. I urge the court to grant him bail to prepare for his trial.”
In the same vein, Amobi’s lawyer, Omeoga Chukwu, also pleaded with the court to grant his client to bail on liberal terms.
However, in his response, Iheanacho, urged the court to dismiss the applications saying the defendants constitute a flight risk.
Iheanacho maintained, “One of the defendants have absconded. The chances that the other defendants will abscond are now higher with their arraignment. We urge the court to refuse the defence requests.”
After listening to the submissions of parties in the matter, Justice Kuewumi adjourned till 9th October for ruling on the bail applications.
Some of the counts against the defendants read thus:
“That you, Robert Chidozie Mbonu (now at large), Melrose General Services Limited, Gbenga Makanjuola and other persons at large sometimes in December 2016 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to disguise the unlawful origin of the sum of N3.5 billion paid into the account of Melrose General Services Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended by the Act No. 2012)and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
“That you, Robert Chidozie Mbonu (now at large) and Melrose General Services Limited, between the 14th day of December, 2016 and January, 2017 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court took control of N3.5 billion transferred from the Nigeria Governors Forum’s Account into Access Bank Plc Account Number, 0005892453 operated by Melrose General Services Limited when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund represented the proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: conspiracy, stealing and fraud, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended by the Act No. 1, 2012) and punishable under Section 15 (3)of the same Act”.
