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.
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