EFCC Re-Arraigns Ladoja, Others Over N4.7bn Alleged Fraud

Former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Waheed Akanbi have been re-arraigned today by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos for allegedly diverting the state’s funds.

Both defendant were alleged to have converted N4.7billion from the state treasury to their personal uses in an 11-count criminal charge of money laundering.

The EFCC also accused Ladoja allegedly “compelling “ a broker to sell the state’s shares, adding that he did not remit N1.9billion realised from the sale of the shares.

The commission said the money went to Ladoja, his family and friends and was not refunded.
EFCC had closed its case before the amendment, but rather than open their defence, the defendants opted to file no-case submissions.

Moving the no-case submissions today, Ladoja’s lawyer Mr Bolaji Onilenla said EFCC did not make out a prima facie case against his client.

An EFCC investigator, Abubakar Madaki, had testified that the shares, worth N6.6billion, were sold without the state executive council’s resolution.

According to the investigator, Ladoja engaged Fountain Securities as a portfolio manager to sell the shares at a discounted rate, adding that the shares were acquired by McLace Securities.

But, Onilenla faulted Madaki’s evidence, arguing that the evidence he gave should have been given by the bank.

He said documents tendered by the prosecution through Madaki ought to have been certified and tendered by the banks.

The lawyer said there were no complaints by the state that the shares were sold illegally.

“We urge the court to hold that there was no prima-facie case against the first defendant and we beg court to discharge and acquit him accordingly,” Onilenla said.

Counsel for Akanbi, Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), said what the prosecution witnesses said in their evidences were not sufficient to ask the defendants to enter a defence.

“We urge the court to uphold the no-case submission of the second defendant,” the SAN said.

EFCC accused the defendants of converting ₦1,932,940,032.48 belonging to Oyo to their personal use through the Guaranty Trust Bank account of a company, Heritage Apartments Limited, despite knowing that it was proceed of crime.

The prosecution said Ladoja removed £600,000 from the state coffers in 2007 and sent it to Bimpe Ladoja in London.

Ladoja also allegedly bought an armoured Land Cruiser jeep with N42million for himself using public funds.

EFCC said he converted N728,600,000 and another N77,850,000 at different times in 2007, and allegedly transferred N77, 850,000 to Bistrum Investments, which he nominated to help him purchase a property named Quarter 361 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The alleged offence, EFCC said, contravenes sections 17(a) and18 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, punishable under sections 14(1), 16(a) (b) and 18(2).

Ladoja and Akanbi pleaded not guilty.

Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned until November 12 for hearing.

It would be recalled that Ladoja was governor from May 29, 2003 to January 12, 2006 when he was impeached. On November 1, 2006, the Appeal Court Ibadan, declared the impeachment null and illegal.

The Supreme Court upheld the decision on November 11, 2006, and Ladoja resumed office on December 12, 2006. He, however, lost a re-election bid.