The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 9,
2016 re-arraigned the duo of immediate past Kwara State Commissioner
for Information, Olatunji Oyeyemi Moronfoye, and Ope Saraki, cousin to
the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and former Special Adviser on
Millennium Development Goals to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed before
Justice Oluremi O. Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court sitting in
Ilorin for offences bordering on abuse of office, diversion of public
funds and money laundering.
Moronfoye
and Saraki who were first arraigned on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 had to
re-enter their plea today following the transfer of the former trial
judge, Justice A. O. Faji.
Moronfoye,
while being the Special Adviser to former Governor Saraki (now Senate
President) allegedly used his position to enrich himself.
Specifically,
he allegedly awarded contracts to the tune of N200million (two hundred
million naira) for the renovation of Ijagbo Primary Health Centre and
Specialist Hospitals within the State to a company in which he has
interest and was the sole signatory to its account.
Similarly,
Sararki abused his office and laundered state funds for his personal
benefit by awarding inflated contracts to companies owned by his
cronies.
In
one of the transactions involving purchase of buses for the State,
Saraki fraudulently procured thirteen Hiace buses from a “Local Car
Dealer” and converted same to ambulance instead of a factory-built
ambulance for which a contract of N171,990,000.00 (one hundred and
seventy one million, nine hundred and ninety thousand naira) was awarded
to Chemiroy Nigeria Limited.
One of the counts reads:
“That
you, Ope Saraki, being the Special Adviser on Millennium Development
Goals (MDG) to Governor of Kwara State sometime in 2012 at Ilorin within
the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did by undue interest
conducted procurement fraud in the procurement of 13 units of ambulance
for 13 General Specialist Hospitals in Kwara State at the sum of
N171,990, 000.00 (one hundred and seventy one million, nine hundred and
ninety thousand naira only), a contract awarded to Chemiroy Nigeria
Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58 (4) (b)
of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (5)
0f the same Act.”
Moronfoye and Saraki, at today’s sitting, again pleaded not guilty to three and five counts preferred against them respectively.
In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, Joseph Uzor urged the court for a date to commence trial.
However,
J. O. Olatoke, SAN and S. I. Abaya representing the accused persons
prayed the court to allow the defendants continue with the bail terms
earlier granted them by the first trial judge, Justice Faji, having not
breached the terms.
Justice
Oguntoyinbo, in response to both counsel’s applications, adjourned to
April 4 and 5, 2016 for trial and ordered the accused persons to
continue with the bail earlier granted them.
It
would be recalled that, Justcie Faji had on May 13, 2015 admitted
Moronfoye and Saraki to bail in the sum of N50m (fifty million naira)
and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must produce “Certificate of
Occupancy” of landed property within urban area of Ilorin and must swear
to affidavit of means. The sureties must also produce evidence of tax
payment for three years. The accused persons must be reporting to EFCC
Head Office, Abuja every three weeks and must notify EFCC whenever they
intend to travel.
While Moronfoye retains
custody of his “International passport”, Saraki, under the said bail
terms, would have his deposited with the court.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
9th February, 2016
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