A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has discharged Gbenga Makanjuola and Kolawole Shittu, both former aides to ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, from the fraud allegations preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a chat with reporters shortly after the ruling, Makanjuola, who was accused alongside two other defendants, expressed relief and gratitude to God.
He said: “How my name got into the case is not for the moment. I just want to reflect and enjoy this moment now by thanking God for seeing me through.
“To God be the glory, I have been vindicated but it’s been a tough journey for me for almost eight years.”
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He praised the court’s decision, citing a recent Supreme Court judgement that deemed the funds in question to be a source of legitimate and valid commercial transaction.
“The court confirmed that with the Supreme Court judgement, the criminal charges cannot proceed again, and that’s the end of it”, he said.
Makanjuola and Shittu were represented by Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Mr. Ojukwu (SAN), respectively, who led other lawyers.
The third defendant was represented by Mr. Wale Adewumi Esq. and his colleagues.
Daily Trust reports that in 2018, the EFCC arraigned Makanjuola and three other defendants before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on charges bordering on conspiracy, money laundering and payment of funds without going through financial institutions.
During their arraignment, the EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Iheanacho, alleged that the defendants, including Melrose General Services Limited and Robert Chidozie Mbonu (now at large), conspired to disguise the origin of N3.5 billion paid into Melrose General Services Limited’s Access Bank account in December 2016.
Iheanacho further alleged that Melrose General Services, Obiora Amobi, the operation manager, made a cash payment of N300 million to Robert Mbonu from the N3.5 billion without going through a financial institution.
Additionally, it was alleged that Makanjuola, Saraki’s former Deputy Chief of Staff, and Kolawole Shittu, a Cashier in then Senate President’s office, made cash payments of $500,000 without using a financial institution in December 2016.
The EFCC argued that these offences violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and were punishable under the same act.
The defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N250 million each with two sureties.
In 2020, the defendants challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the criminal charges, the same being an invalid charge which violates the principles of law. The court, having listened to arguments of both parties, struck out the case based on an invalid and improper charges.
However, in January, 2021, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, re-filed the criminal charges against the four defendants at Federal High Court, Abuja. In May 2024, they were re-arraigned before Hon. Justice P.O. Lifu after the third amended charges bordering on conspiracy, accepting cash payments beyond the threshold, and stealing.
The defendants, again, pleaded not guilty, and their counsels made applications for bail, which were granted.
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