Former FCT minister Jumoke Akinjide returns $1.8m to treasury as part of plea bargaining deal

FORMER Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Olajumoke Akinjide has returned N650m ($1.8m) to government coffers as part of a plea bargaining arrangement designed to get the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) drop charges against her.

Mrs Akinjide is accused of conspiring with Chief Olanrewaju Otiti, a leading member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State to launder a sum of N650m, which she collected out of a larger sum of $115m doled out by a former petroleum minister of Diezani Alison-Madueke. Charged by the EFCC,  she and two others appeared before Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

During the hearing, Usman Zakari, an EFCC investigator, answered no when asked by counsel to the first defendant, Bolaji Ayorinde, if the N10m paid by Mrs Akinjide’s husband was a condition for the release of his wife. When Mr Ayorinde further asked if he was aware that the remaining N640m had been paid, Mr Zakari said he aware of this too.

He added: “I am aware that she has paid the balance of N640m, making a total of N650m, which she paid through a Stanbic IBTC draft to the commission. The team investigating the matter is headed by Shaibu Shehu, an investigator with the EFCC and the team was raised by the head of operations, Lagos Zone.”

Mrs Akinjide alongside Senator Ayo Adeseun and Chief Otiti, were first re-arraigned on January 16, on an amended 24-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N650m. However, they have entered into a plea bargaining agreement and agreed to refund the sums in question but pending a final resolution, it appears the trial will continue.

Yesterday, Justice Hassan remanded Mrs Akinjide in custody pending the next hearing, despite the prosecution counsel informing the court that the parties have agreed on the plea bargain agreement. According to the EFCC, the money was used by the PDP to fund the 2015 elections.