* Scales of Justice * Source: Iconfinder
…As Court Releases Rep Member, Who Stand Surety.
Former Minister of State for Defence and one time Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide accused of collecting the sum of N650 million from former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Deziani Allison Madueke to prosecute the 2015 general election today submitted her self to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).
This is as an Igbosere Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos, today also released Mr Aliyu Pategi, a member the of House of Representatives, representing Edu/Moro Federal Constituency, from the custody of the anti-graft agency for his inability to produce the former minister to the commission after standing as surety for her.
Pategi was arrested by the EFCC and ordered to be remanded in the EFCC’S custody by the court since last week Friday, for his failure to produce Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, a former Minister for State, Defence and Federal Capital Territory, who was said to have jumped bail.
He was however released by the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Afolashade Botoku, upon informing the court by his counsel, Mr. Olusegun Williams, that the person whom his client stood for had submitted herself to the Lagos Office of EFCC.
Consequently, he withdrawal the both application for bail and Notice of Preliminary Objection challenging the court jurisdiction to entertain EFCC application against his client.
Confirming Williams’ submission, lawyer to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, said, “I confirm from Operation of the EFCC, Lagos, that Oloye Jumoke Akinjide has now turn herself in to the custody of the EFCC. And since it was inability of the second respondent to produce her that triggered our application. We would therefore in the interest of justice apply that this suit be struck out in view of success made by the second respondent to secure the appearance of the first respondent”.
Upon the submissions of both parties, the Presiding Chief Magistate, Botoki, pronounced the EFCC’s application against Pategi struck out.
The EFCC had on last Friday, through a motion Ex-parte sought an order of the court to remand the Rep member pending when he will be arraigned in court or produce the person the person he stood surety for.
In urging the court for the order, the EFCC had told the court that Pategi stood surety for a former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, who has a pending criminal charge against her before the Federal High Court in Ibadan.
EFCC filed the charged against Akinjinde for allegedly collecting N650million out of the $115million doled out by the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezaani Alison-Madueke, to compromise the 2015 general election.
Aliyu was said to have, on August 10, 2016, entered a bail bond of N650million to secure an administrative bail for Akinjinde, but the former minister was said to have jumped the bail.
Akinjide’s non-appearance had stalled her arraignment in the charge marked FHC/IB/26C/2017 filed before a Federal High Court in Ibadan with the court threatening to strike out the charge should the EFCC fail to produce her.
On Friday, the EFCC dragged Aliyu before the magistrate court in Lagos, praying for his remand as Akinjide had absconded
The court had rejected an oral bail application for Aliyu by his lawyer, Adenrele Adegborioye, who had urged the court to note his client’s status as a serving House of Representatives member.
Counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the magistrate that Aliyu entered a bail bond of N650million being the sum allegedly collected by Jumoke Akinjide from Diezani.
The EFCC, in a 16-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives, Danladi Daniel, said, “That an intelligent report was received sometime in 2016 that Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and others benefited the total sum of N650 million from the proceed of the gratification received by the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Deizani Alison-Madueke, from some oil marketers.
The EFCC said upon Akinjide’s invitation to its office on August 9, 2016, she volunteered a statement, following which she was released on administrative bail entered by Aliyu on August 10, 2016.
