By Demola Akinyemi
Ilorin – Four officials of Kwara state government accused of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were Monday admitted to bail before a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.

Some of the Kwara officials arrested by the EFCCfor money laundering

The officials were charged to court for allegedly engaging in money laundering to the tune of N20.3 million.

EFCC had arraigned Abubakar Ishiak (Permanent Secretary Government House), Shina Akorede (Director of Finance and Administration), Rasaq Momonu (Controller Finance and Accounts) and Hafeez Yusuf (Cashier) all of government house before a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital.

According to the charge sheet, EFCC accuse the four of making “cash payment of N20.3 million to one Energy Multi-Trade Interbiz limited for services
rendered to the Kwara state Government House which cash sum exceeded the limitation of N10 million payable to a body corporate committing an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section
12(2) of the same Act.”

Counsel to the accused Abdulwahab Bamidele had at the last adjourned date urged the court to use its discretionary powers in admitting them to bail.

Counsel to EFCC Christopher Mshelia opposed the application, instead he prayed the court to accord the case accelerated hearing.

But on Monday, the court granted each of the accused persons bail with a sum of five million Naira and one surety each in like sum.

In his ruling, presiding judge, Justice Baba Gana Ashigir conceded that granting of bails is the discretionary power of the court, adding that “the case is ordinarily bailable under the Administration of criminal Justice Act 2015.”

The court added the sureties must live within the jurisdiction of the court as well as own landed property worth the bail sum.

The court directed the sureties to deposit their certificates of occupancy (Cs o O) of the landed property with the registrar of court.

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The court also ordered the accused persons to deposit their international passports with the court registry.

Justice Ashigir agreed with the applicants (accused) counsel that they would not jump bail and would not tamper with investigation.
Justice Ashigir then adjourned the case till June 23rd, 2019 for trial.

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