Akinjide, ex-minister, remanded in EFCC custody over N650m ‘fraud’

A federal high court in Ibadan, on Thursday remanded Olajumoke Akinjide, a former minister, in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody over alleged N650 million faud.

Joyce Abdulmaleek, the presiding judge, remanded her alongside one Olajumoke Akinjide in custody.

Otiti along with Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum; Ayoade Adeseun, as well as Akinjide had earlier been arraigned on a 12-count amended charge.

The charges were bordering on conspiracy, unlawful conversion and stealing of N650 million in the build up of the 2015 general elections.

At the resumed hearing, Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecution counsel, informed the court that the commission had amended the charges against the accused persons.

He prayed for the amended charges to be read.

The defence counsel, however, objected to the amendments.

Bolaji Ayorinde, Michael Lana and Adeniyi Isola – all part of the defence counsel team – argued that no charge had ever been read to their clients before.

They said as a result of this, there was no cause for any amendment.

The defence counsel also submitted that it was an “irregularity” on the part of the prosecution to be amending charges “not known to be existing.”

The judge, however, overruled them directing that the charge sheet be read to them.

Akinjide and Otiti – two of the accused persons present at the sitting — pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Two of the defense counsels – Ayorinde and Lana – in separate submissions, told the court that they were withdrawing further appearance in the case.

They claimed the court had not been fair to their clients and subsequently walked out of the court.

According to NAN, Akinjide had begun moves to explore plea bargain arrangement with the EFCC.

The case was adjourned till July 6 to hear the accused’s bail applications.