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| Mrs Ochekpe |
450m: EFCC ARRAIGNS
OCHEKPE, OTHERS. GRANTED BAIL; CASE ADJOURNED TO 13TH FEBRUARY, 2018.
By
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last
week arraigned Mrs. Serah Ochekpe, the immediate past Minister of Water
Resources, Hon. Raymond Dabo, the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), and Evang. Leo Sunday Jitong at the Federal High Court sitting in
Jos on a two count charge bordering on money laundering.
When the case with file No. FHC/J/14/C/2017 was called,
Prosecution Counsel, A Y Munchaka, told Justice Musa Kurya that before him is a
two count charge dated and filed on 13th December, 2017, accompanied
with an affidavit of comprehensive investigation and deposed to by Olayinka Rotime,
an operative of the EFCC. He added that in compliance with the procedure of the
Criminal Act of Justice, section 37(1) A and B of the Act, all other necessary
documents have been attached including a list of witnesses statements. He added
that the three defendants have also been served on 18th January,
2018 and applied to tender same in court.
The prosecution Counsel said that the evidence attached
disposes a primal facie case against the defendants and urged the court to
accept the charges before it which the court did.
Consequently, the charges were read out to the defendants
thus; “ count 1. that you, SERAH RENG OCHEKPE, EVANG. LEO
SUNDAY JITONG, RAYMOND DABO and MRS DEZIANI ALLISON MADUEKE (NOW AT LARGE) sometimes in March, 2015 at Jos,
Plateau State of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court,
without going through the financial Institution, did conspire amongst
yourselves to accept cash payment of the sum of Four Hundred and Fifty Million
Naira (450,000,000.00) from Mrs DEZIANI ALLISON MADUEKE through
Fidelity Bank Plc which sum exceeded the amount authorized by law and thereby
committed an offence to the provision of section
18 (a), section 16(1), (d), of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act 2012 (as
Amended) and punishable under
Section 16(2) (b) of the same Act.
“Count 2
That you,
SERAH RENG OCHEKPE, EVANG. LEO SUNDAY JITONG AND RAYMOND DABO sometimes in
March, 2015 at Jos, Plateau state of Nigeria within the Jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court, without going through the Financial Institution, did accept
cash payment of the sum of Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira
(450,000,000.oo) from MRS DEZIANI ALLISON MADUAKE through Fidelity Bank Plc
which sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law to be paid to an individual (s)
and thereby, committed an offence contrary to the provision of Section 1(a)
Section 16 (1) (d) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act 2012 (as Amended)
and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.”
The
defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Prosecution counsel
thereafter asked that they be remanded in prison custody until the next
adjourned case. However, counsel to the defendants, SG Odey Esq tendered an
application for bail to be granted on self- recognition which was granted by
Justice Kurya but on the condition that the bail Bond must be counter signed by
the defence counsel. The matter was adjourned to 13th February, 2018
for continuation of hearing.
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