EFCC Arraign Four KWSG Officials Over Money Laundering – TheNigerialawyer

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal
Office, on Thursday, May 2, 2019 arraigned four officials of the
Kwara State Government, before Justice Babangana Ashigar of a
Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin on a two-count charge
bordering on money laundering.

Those arraigned include: Abubakar Ishiak, Permanent Secretary;
Shina Mudasir Akorede, Director of Administration and Finance;
Rasaq Momonu, Controller Finance and Account, and Hafees Yusuf,
Cashier.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Abubakar Ishiak, being the
Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Government House, Shina Mudasir
Akorede, being the Director of Administration and Finance, Rasaq
Momonu, being the Controller of Finance and Account, Kwara State
Government House, and Hafees Yusuf, being the Cashier of Kwara
State Government House on or about the 14th day of February 2019 at
Ilorin, Kwara State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Court, did make a cash payment of N20,300,000 (Twenty Million,
Three Hundred Thousand Naira) only to one Energy Multi-Trade Unique
Interbiz Limited through the company’s Chief Executive Officer,
Jimoh Sarafadeen Kolade for services rendered to Kwara State
Government House, which cash sum exceeded the limitation of N10
million payable to a body corporate and thereby committed an
offence contrary to section 1 (b) and Punishable under section 16
of the same Act.”

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

Based on their plea, prosecuting counsel, Christopher Mschelia,
prayed the court for a date for trial to commence as the EFCC was
prepared to prove its case against them.

“We are asking your lordship to order that they should be
remanded in prison,” Mschelia added.

Lead defence counsel, Abdulwahab Bamidele, however made an oral
application for bail.

But Mschelia urged the Court not to grant the request, insisting
that “the substantive bail application is not ripe for
hearing”.

Justice Ashigar in his ruling refused the oral application for
bail, and ordered the defendants to be remanded in EFCC
custody.

The case has been adjourned to May 8, 2019 for hearing of the
formal bail application, while the trial is to commence on June 6,
2019.

Subscribe ToNairalaw News!