Jumoke Akinjide, former minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has agreed to return the sum of N650 million she received from Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum, to the Federal Government.
Bolaji Ayorinde, her counsel, disclosed this on Tuesday, February 6, 2018.
He told the Federal High Court in Lagos that arrangements were being made by his client for the refund of the money.
He said that Jumoke had indicated her resolve to enter into a plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on the matter.
The EFCC had on January 16, 2018 arraigned Akinjide and two others for allegedly receiving N650 million cash from Diezani in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.
EFCC claimed that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities, adding that Akinjide and others received the money without going through any financial institution, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
Those charged along with Akinjide were Senator Ayo Adeseun and Chief Olanrewaju Otiti.
The trio, however, pleaded not guilty to the 24 charges filed against them.
The court had fixed Tuesday for commencement of trial.
But when the case was called on Tuesday, Ayorinde told the trial judge, Justice Muslim Hassan, that his client intended to explore an amicable settlement of the case with the EFCC.
He said that he had discussed his client’s intention with the counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, and pleaded that an adjournment be granted to allow the parties to discuss.
He said: “This matter is principally about the campaign funds of the 2015 elections in Oyo State and the people in the dock now were the principal hands that handled the funds, consequently, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Oyo State have unanimously taken a decision to refund the total sum N650 million.
“In the light of the above, before the trial commences full-blown, we are imploring the court to allow parties to explore possible amicable settlement,” he said.
The EFCC prosecutor, Oyedepo, confirmed that Ayorinde had approached him for the settlement of the case.
