PDP CHIEFS TELL JUDGE TO STEP ASIDE IN N500M FRAUD

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – The  Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Mr. Clement Faboyede and Director General, PDP Campaign Organisation in Ondo State, Mr. Modupe Adetokunbo during the 2015 General Election, today asked Justice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos to step aside from the N500 million suit filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Making their case before Justice Saidu, their lawyer, Eyitayo Jegede(SAN) in a motion sought for an order to dismiss the charge due to lack of jurisdiction. They claimed that none of the ingredients or acts alleged against them in the proof of evidence took place in Lagos but in Akure, Ondo state. Lawyer to the EFCC, Ekene Iheanachor, confirmed been served with the application, but told the court that he needed time to respond to it.

Following the agreement of the parties, the matter was adjourned till November 26, for hearing of application challenging the court’s jurisdiction. In an affidavit attached to the motion deposed to by Faboyede, it was averred that all the defence witnesses were scattered across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State and that it would be difficult to bring them to Lagos to testify in the matter. 

Some of the witnesses were said to be civil servants who are residents of Ondo state. It would be recalled that both Faboyede and Adetokunboh were first arraigned before the court on June 26, on charges bordering on conspiracy, accepting cash payment of over N500 million without going through financial institution, by the EFCC.

The EFCC in a charge marked, FHC/ L/201C/2018, had alleged that the accused persons and others at large on or about March 27, 2015, conspired amongst themselves to accept cash payment of N500 million from one, Owolanke Micheal, without going through any financial institution.

Faboyede, was particularly as being the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to had on March 27, 2015, made cash payment of N500 million to the Ondo State PDP’s Election Committee, without going through financial institution contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011(as amended  by Act 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 16(2)of the same Act.