EFCC Arraigns Former Minister, Ex-PDP Chairman, Over N450m Fraud

Ex-water resources minister, Sarah Ochekpe and two other individuals were arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, on the grounds of alleged money laundering to the tune of N450 million.

Tried along side Raymond Dabo, former PDP Chairman in Plateau, and Evangelist Leo-Sunday Jatau, Coordinator of the President Goodluck Jonathan campaign in 2015, Ochei was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The accused were arraigned on two counts of conspiracy and money laundering before Justice Musa Kurya.

The suspects pleaded not guilty, after the charges were read to them.

The Prosecuting counsel, Mr A. Y. Manchata, told the court that sometimes in 2015, the sum of N450 million was transferred from the account of then former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alison Diezeni-Madueke, to the account of one of the defendants, who allegedly withdrew and laundered it.

But the defence Counsel, Mr Sunday Odey, who challenged the allegations of the EFCC, applied for the bail of the three accused persons, who he described as “people of high integrity.’’

“My Lord, since my clients have pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge, I hereby apply for their bail on self recognition,” he said.

Responding, the EFCC Counsel objected to the bail application, insisting that the accused should be remanded in Prison considering the weight of the offence.

Odey, however, countered Manchata’s position, and stated that he would stand as surety and produce the trio at the next adjourned date of the case.

After listening to the arguments of the two lawyers, Kurya granted them bail on self-recognition and adjourned the case to Feb. 13 and 14 for hearing.