Date: 2019-05-02

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office, Thursday, arraigned four officials of the Kwara State Government over alleged money laundering.

They were made to appear before Justice Babangana Ashigar of a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.

The suspects are Abubakar Ishiak, Permanent Secretary; Shina Mudasir Akorede, Director of Administration and Finance; Rasaq Momonu, Controller Finance and Account, and Hafees Yusuf, Cashier.

EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja.

Orlade said one of the counts reads, "That you, Abubakar Ishiak, being the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Government House, Shina Mudasir Akorede, being the Director of Administration and Finance, Rasaq Momonu, being the Controller of Finance and Account, Kwara State Government House, and Hafees Yusuf, being the Cashier of Kwara State Government House on or about the 14th day of February 2019 at Ilorin, Kwara State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did make a cash payment of N20,300,000 (Twenty Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira) only to one Energy Multi-Trade Unique Interbiz Limited through the company's Chief Executive Officer, Jimoh Sarafadeen Kolade for services rendered to Kwara State Government House, which cash sum exceeded the limitation of N10 million payable to a body corporate and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (b) and Punishable under section 16 of the same Act."

But the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Consequently, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mschelia, prayed the court for a trial date as the EFCC said it was prepared to prove its case against the accused.

Also, Mschelia said, "We are asking your lordship to order that they should be remanded in prison".

Lead defence counsel, Abdulwahab Bamidele, however, made an oral application for bail.

But Mschelia urged the Court not to grant the request, insisting that "the substantive bail application is not ripe for hearing".

In his ruling, Justice Ashigar refused the oral application for bail, and ordered the defendants to be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the case to May 8, for hearing of the formal bail application while the trial was to commence June 6.