Alleged N3.5b Fraud: All Eyes On Saraki As Gbenga Makanjuola Returns To Court In Abuja

A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Gbenga Makanjuola , who also at different times served as Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff , has been rearraigned on fraud charges  in Abuja by  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Makanjuola and other defendants  appeared before Justice P.O Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday.

It was the second time they would be returning to court having been  rearraigned in March  2019. 

The defendants were brought back to court after amendments were made to the charges preferred against them bordering on alleged conspiracy, accepting cash payment beyond threshold and money laundering to the tune of N3.5 billion.

 Makanjuola , Kolawole Shittu and Melrose Investment Limited were the defendants  and their counsels; Barrister Anozie Okwy and Barrister Odum later made application for their bail  which was granted by the judge.

 Justice Lifu however added a caveat that should they fail to meet the bail conditions,  they should be taken to Kuje Correctional Facility,  in FCT.

Only sketchy information was available with respect to the bail conditions as at the time of publishing this report.

Also, efforts made to confirm if Makanjuola eventually met the bail conditions failed as his mobile phone number was not reachable.

The development recorded on Tuesday naturally had all eyes on former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki cognizant that the former reps member had served as his aide during his tenure as Senate President while what he is being linked with had also happened during the period in question.

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had in October 2018 , preferred charges against Gbenga Makanjuola, and two others and accused them of involvement in alleged N3.5 billion fraud .

They were consequently arraigned in the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Makanjuola was arraigned alongside a firm, Melrose General Services Limited; and Obiorah Amobi.

In the charges, the EFCC alleged that they committed the offence sometime in December 2016 in connivance with one Robert Mbonu,  who was said to be at large.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants ‘took control of N3.5bn that was transferred from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s bank  account into an Access Bank Plc account number 0005892453, operated by Melrose General Services Limited.

Recall also that Justice  Akintoye Aluko of the  Federal High Court ,  Lagos had however later cleared GCA Energy Limited, an oil and gas exploration service company, of any wrongdoing  in the  alleged N3.5 billion Paris loan scam.

The court had  also struck out the suit filed against  Makanjuola and two others.

The judge had ruled in favour of  the preliminary objection raised by the defendants and struck out the charges on the grounds that they are  invalid and incompetent–Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you