How Jonathan’s minister was jailed over Diezani loot

A federal high court in Jos sentenced the former Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, to three months imprisonment, on Tuesday.

She was sentenced alongside a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State, Raymond Dabo, and the Plateau State Coordinator of Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Leo-Sunday Jitong.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged them in 2018 with conspiracy and money laundering of N450 million which they received from the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to finance the reelection campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo.

 Justice Musa Kurya found them guilty as charged but gave them a fine option of N1 million naira.

Ochekpe, Dabo and Jitong had entered a plea of no-case submission.

While sentencing the convicts, the judge held that after withdrawing the said amount from the bank, they did not withhold the money to themselves but delivered the same to a governorship candidate, as such were not guilty of retaining the sum for themselves.

He said they were guilty of withdrawing the N450million which was above the threshold of an individual withdrawal.