Justice Babangana Ashigar of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, has adjourned the trial of the four Kwara Government officials, accused of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to September 25, 2019, for the commencement of trial.
The suspected Kwara Government officials are Abubakar Ishiak, a Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Government House; Shina Mudasir Akorede, Director of Administration and Finance; Rasaq Momonu, Controller, Finance and Account, Kwara State Government House and Hafeez Yusuf, Cashier, Kwara State Government House.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Abubakar Ishak, 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 Hafeez 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.”
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, the trial could not go on today as the presiding judge, Justice Ashigar was said to be indisposed, even as two prosecution witnesses were in court to testify in the matter.
The matter was adjourned to September 25, 2019, to enable the prosecution to open its case against the accused persons.