A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jumoke Akinjide was on Tuesday, re-arraigned before a Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
She was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is said to be at large.
Akinjide was re-arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan on a 24 count charge.
Others named in the charge are Senator Ayo Adeseun and a Chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olarenwaju Otiti.
They were all accused of conspiring to directly take possession of N650million, which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.
The defendants allegedly received the money from Mrs Alison-Madueke in the build-up to the 2015 general election.
The money was said to be part of a larger sum of $115 million allegedly doled out by Mrs Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
At today’s proceeding, the EFCC arraigned Ms. Akinjide on 9 out of the 24 count charge. She pleaded not guilty.
The second defendant, Senator Ayo Adeseun pleaded not guilty to 17 out of the 24 count charge made against him while the third defendant, Chief Olanrewaju Otiti also pleaded not guilty to 6 of the counts.
Counsel to Akinjide, Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, then asked the court to allow his client to continue to enjoy bail as earlier granted by the Federal High Court Sitting in Ibadan.
The counsel to the second and third defendant aligned themselves with this request on behalf of their clients.
Justice Muslim Hassan granted the request and ordered that the defendants should continue to enjoy bail.
He then adjourned their trial till February 5, 2018.
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