Davidson Iriekpen
A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide, who was charged with an alleged fraud of N650million, has urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to allow her travel abroad for medical treatment.
Akinjide, through her lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), appeared before Justice Chuka Obiozor, to argue his client’s application yesterday, the matter could not proceed as the judge noted that it was not listed for hearing for the day.
Justice Obiozor, subsequently, adjourned till July 26 for Ayorinde to come and argue the application.
The judge, however, hinted that he might not be inclined to granting the application as Akinjide was not being tried before him and he was not the one who admitted the ex-minister to bail.
But Ayorinde assured the judge that he had spoken with all the parties involved, adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) might not be opposing the application.
The EFCC had on June 22, 2017 arraigned Akinjide and one Chief Olanrewaju Otiti before the Federal High Court in Ibadan.
The ex-minister was accused of conspiring with Otiti to launder a sum of N650million, which she allegedly collected out of the $115million allegedly doled out by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezaani Alison-Madueke, to compromise the 2015 general election.
The EFCC said they acted contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundry Act, 2012 punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4) of the Act.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the 24 counts levelled against them.
