Alleged N3.5bn Money Laundering: EFCC Re-Arraigns Saraki's Aide, Others

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) said it has dragged the deputy chief of staff to the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, before the Lagos Federal High Court over an amended 11-count charge of conspiracy and money laundry.

The commission, which made this known on Wednesday, March 13, said the Senate president's aide, Gbenga Makanjuola, and Kolawole Shittu, who is the cashier to the Senate, are facing crime of alleged fraud of N3.5 billion, The Guardian reports.

According to Legit.ng the others are Obiora Amobi, who is the operations manager of Melrose General Services Limited and Robert Chidozie Mbonu, a former managing director of Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN),

They were re-arraigned after being granted bail by Justice Babs Kuewumi who has been transferred out of Lagos.

Justice Maureen Onyetenu, in her judgement granted the prayers of the defendants to continue on an existing bail after their counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), made the appeal before the judge.

Although, the counsel to the prosecuting witness, Bashir Kamil, had prayed for the continuation of the trial, Justice Onyetenu, standing on the earlier verdict given by Kuewumi, allowed the defendants to continue with their bail.

She, however adjourned the case to May 20, 21 and 22, 2019 for the continuation of the trial.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported the absence of the prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, March 13, stalled the continuation of trial of former Oyo state governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, over alleged N11.5 billion fraud.

Alao-Akala, along with his former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Hosea Agboola; and a businessman, Femi Babalola, were being prosecuted by the EFCC at an Oyo state high court in Ibadan.