The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday arraigned former Senior Special Assistant to former president, Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, on a 59-count charge bordering on “money laundering and criminal diversion of funds” to the tune of N702 million.
The case is being heard by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, of Federal High Court Abuja, where Okupe was arraigned along with two companies, Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd allegedly involved in the commission of the fraud.
Okupe however, pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges.
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Upon his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Ibrahim Audu, asked for a date for commencement of the trial and Okupe’s counsel, Tolu Babaleiye, through a motion on notice dated December 17, 2018 prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail.
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Babaleiye further urged the court to admit the defendant to bail on self-recognizance adding that he will not jump bail as he is well known.
While responding to the application, Audu argued that the defendant was given administrative bail after he volunteered his statement thereafter, he was nowhere to be found until December 2018 in Lagos.
After listening to all the arguments, Justice Ojukwu granted bail to the defendant in the sum of 100 million naira with one surety in like sum.
Justice Ojukwu, thereafter, adjourned to February 27, 28 and March 6, 2019 for trial.
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