IBADAN – A former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide and Olanrewaju Otiti have been remanded in EFCC custody over alleged N650 million fraud.
Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, who gave the order on Thursday, adjourned the case till July 6 to hear their bail application.
The EFCC arraigned a former MInister of Petroleum Minister Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is at large alongside Senator Ayoade Adeseun, Akinjide and Otiti, on a 12- count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful conversion and stealing of N650 million in the build up to the 2015 general elections.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo at the resumed hearing on Thursday, told the court that the commission had amended the charges against the accused persons and prayed that the amended charges be read.
But the defence counsel led by Mr. Bolaji Ayorinde, objected to the amendments and reading of any charge to their clients.
He argued that no charge had ever been read to their clients before, insisting there was no basis for amendment.
Justice Abdulmaleek, overruled the defence counsel and ordered that the charge sheet be read to the two accused persons, Akinjide and Otiti, who were present in court.
They however, pleaded not guilty to the 12- count charge.
