Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday re-arraigned ex-Information Commissioner and former Senior Special Assistant, Olatunji Oyeyemi Moronfoye and Ope Saraki before a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, for alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering.
Moronfoye served as Information commissioner under ex-governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, while Saraki was the senior special assistant on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The anti-graft agency re-arraigned the duo on separate charges before Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court, Ilorin.
The case, which first started on May 13, 2015 in the same court, had suffered series of setbacks occasioned by transfer of the trial judges.
Saraki, while being the senior special assistant on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), allegedly received a cash payment of N11,180,000.00 from Kunle Adimula, a sum which exceeded the cash amount payable to an individual and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) and 16(1) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) of the same Act.
Similarly, Moronfoye while being the special adviser on MDGS, allegedly committed procurement fraud by means of unlawful influence in the award of two contracts involving renovation of Ijagbo Primary Health Centre and supply of medical equipment to two hospitals in Kwara State. The alleged offence contravenes Section 58(4) and punishable under Section 58(5)(a) and (b) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
The two defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following their pleas, EFCC counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre pending trial.
But counsel to the defendants, Sulyman Abaya and Joshua Olatoke (SAN), urged the court to allow their clients to continue with the terms and conditions of the bail earlier granted them by the court.
Justice Sani, after listening to the submissions by counsel, admitted the defendants to bail on the terms earlier granted them by the first trial judge, having not breached the terms.
Justice Sani adjourned till February 16, 2022 for commencement of trial for Ope Saraki and February 22, 2022 for Moronfoye.
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