A former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs. Jumoke Akinjide, and two other chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State would be re-arraigned in court next month by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Newsmen gathered that the trio of Akinjide, a daughter to a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation during the second republic, Chief Richard Akinjide and Senator Ayo Adeseun who represented Oyo Central Senatorial District between 2011 and 2015 and Mrs. Olanrewaju Otiti were charged with N650 million alleged fraud.
The money was part of the fund allegedly shared by the PDP stalwarts during the 2015 campaigns. The EFCC claimed that the defendants received money from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.
The money, according to the anti-graft agency, was said to form part of a total sum of 115 million dollars allegedly disbursed by Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 Presidential Election.
Akinjide, Adeseun and Otiti would appear before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court in Lagos on June 11.
Akinjide was first arraigned on January 16, 2018, before Justice Sule Hassan alongside Adeseun and Otiti, on an amended 24-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering.
They, however, pleaded not guilty, and were granted bail. Trial began before Hassan, with witnesses testifying, but midway, the case was transferred to Aneke. When the case came up on Friday before Aneke, the defendants mounted the dock.
Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), O.F.A Adeosun and Akinola Oladeji appeared for the first, second and third defendants, respectively. Mr U.U. Buhari announced appearance for the prosecution.
Ayorinde prayed the court to give another date for the re-arraignment, saying that lead prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, and himself were to appear in another trial before another judge.
He told the court that Oyedepo would want to be present during the arraignment. His application was not opposed by other counsel.
Justice Aneke consequently adjourned the case till June 11, for re-arraignment.
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