EFCC arraigns 3 Osun INEC officials for alleged money laundering, bribery

Mr Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of EFCC

By Akin Kuponiyi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned another set of three Osun State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials before a Federal High Court in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria for allegedly benefiting from Dieziani Alison Madueke’s largesse to manipulate the 2015 general election.

The three Osun state INEC officials, Gbadegun Abiodun, Oladipo Oladapo and Afolabi Albert were arraigned on five count charges of conspiracy and receiving millions of naira in cash without going through a financial institution.

On March 30, 2015, the three accused INEC officials were alleged to have conspired together to accept cash payment of N177.3 million without going through a financial institution.

The offence alleged to have been committed by the accused INEC officials of collecting cash payment exceeding N5 million violates Section 18 and is punishable under Section 16 (2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended by the Act No 2, 2012.

Abiodun, Oladapo and others at large were said to have used N22million in April 2015 which they allegedly obtained through forgery thereby violating Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Act.

In Count Four, EFCC alleged that Oladapo and others at large took possession of N3 million in cash from Abiodun when he “reasonably ought to have known that the said N3 million was proceed of unlawful activity to wit: bribery.”

The EFCC prosecution, Ekene Ihanacho further alleged that Oladapo and the others who are unnamed also took possession of N10 million through the account of Bacole Multi-concerns Universal Limited company operated by him.

The alleged offence violated Section 18 (c) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering Act.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to each of the counts.

Defence counsel, Dapo Esan pleaded that they be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.

He said they were well treated by EFCC officials while in the commission’s custody.

But Iheanacho said that the EFCC facility was overstretched, adding that only those being investigated were kept in EFCC custody.

Consequently, the Presiding judge, Professor Chuka Obiozor while adjoining till 7th of August, 2018 ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.