The trial of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ), Mrs. Jumoke Akinjide, over N650 million alleged money laundering commenced on Tuesday before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned the former minister along with Senator Ayo Adeseun and Chief Olanrewaju Otiti, all Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains.
The case was transferred to the Federal High Court Lagos division from the Ibadan division of the court at Akinjide’s request.
The defendants were charged along with former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke. They were accused of conspiring to directly take possession of N650 million which they ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.
At yesterday’s proceeding, the EFCC prosecutor , Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo told the court that the EFCC had an amended 24-count charge and urged the court to admit same as their charges in the suit.
The defence counsels did not oppose the amended charge, and the presiding judge, Justice Muslim Hassan, ordered the registrar to read the charges to the defendants for their pleas to be taken.
The first defendant, Jumoke Akinjide, the second defendant, Senator Ayo Adeseun, and the third defendant, Chief Olanrewaju Otiti all pleaded not guilty to charges against them.
The former petroleum minister Dieziani Alison Madueke who was alleged in the criminal charge to have conspired with the other three accused persons to take possession of the N650million was stated in the charge to be at large.
Justice Hassan ordered that the defendants should continue to enjoy their bail and adjourned till 5th of February.
