The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday amended the charges against former Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, and two others docked before a Jos Federal High Court, over alleged N450million fraud.
Ochekpe, and former acting Plateau PDP Chairman, Raymond Dabo, and former Plateau Campaign Coordinator, President Goodluck Johnathan, Leo Sunday-Jatau, were arraigned on January 22, 2018, on a two- count charge bordering on money laundering.
The anti-graft agency had earlier alleged that sometime in 2015, N450 million was transferred from the account of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alison Diezeni-Madueke, to the account of one of the defendants.
The defendant allegedly withdrew the money and laundered it.
When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday before Justice Musa Kurya, the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Munchaka, told the court that he had filed an amended charge.
He said that the amended charge against the defendant was now three.
The amended charges alleged that the accused collected N450 million from one Annet Olije-Gyen, which exceeded the amount authorised by law.
The offences were contrary to Section 18 (a)(d), 1 (a), 16(1)(d) and punishable under Section 16 (2) of Money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 (as Amended).
When the charges were read, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution counsel prayed the court to proceed with trial of the defendants.
The defence counsel, S. Oyewole, opposed the application, as he was only served the amended charges on Monday, while the defendants were given the amended charges on Tuesday morning.
Oyewole said: “My Lord, the accused persons need to study the amended charges first because any question we may want to ask must arise from what they will tell us, therefore we need more time.
“We may wish to ask for an adjournment to enable our clients to study the charges.’’
After listening to the arguments of counsel, the judge adjourned the case until Wednesday, February 14, for definite hearing.
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