Joseph Bakare
Nigeria’s former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke has been remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission till next week Monday, when hearing in his money laundering case will continue.
Adoke was arraigned in court today for fraud and money laundering
He was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at Gwagwalada Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on a 42-count charge of fraud and money laundering.
He is being tried alongside Aliyu Abubakar, Mr. Rasky Gbinigie, Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, Nigeria Agip Exploration, Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep Ltd and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production.
Justice A.I. Kutigi is presiding over the case.
Adoke is accused of using public office for gratification, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 115(a) of the Panel Code, Cap. 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja)1990 and punishable under Section 115(i) of the same Penal Code.
EFCC counsel, Bala Sanga stated that the matter was for arraignment and subject to the convenience of the court applied that the charges be read to the defendants. According to him, “We have on 14/01/2020 filed a forty-two count charge. However, we filed an amended charge dated 23/01/2020 and filed on the same date. My lord, we only amended, but we can confirm the proof of evidence, and subject to the convenience of the court we are applying for the charge to be read to them.”
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Muhammed Bello Adoke, while being a public servant, as attorney-general and minister of Justice of the federation, sometime in August 2013, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, accepted from Aliyu Abubakar for yourself a gratification of US dollars equivalent of N300,000,000.00 (Three Hundred Million Naira) only other than lawful remuneration, as a motive for facilitating and negotiating the Block 245 Resolution Agreement with Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep Limited, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 115(a) of the Penal Code, Cap. 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja)1990 and punishable under Section 115(i) of the same Penal Code.”
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
