The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) is set for the trial of Gbenga Makanjuola, deputy chief of staff to the Senate President Bukola Saraki and a former Managing Director of Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria( SGBN), Mr. Robert Mbonu.
The duo are to be arraigned over the alleged conversion of N3.5billion of N19billion London-Paris Club refund to states.
The other accused are Melrose General Services Limited and Obiora Amobi. No date has been fixed for the trial of the suspects at a Federal High Court in Lagos, TheNation newspaper reported today.
Following protests by states over deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of N522.74 billion (first tranche) refund to them, pending reconciliation of records.
Each state was entitled to N14.5 billion or 25 per cent of the amount claimed.
The release of the cash was trailed by a huge controversy, including payment of N19billion consultancy fees and $86million into the accounts of the NGF.
The EFCC in the last two years has been investigating the alleged diversion of the N19billion under the guise of consultancy fees, including the N3.5billion, which was allegedly remitted to Melrose General Services Limited, allegedly with links to Mbonu.
About $183,000 of the N3.5billion was transferred to a Dubai jeweler patronised by some senators.
In the charges against the suspects, the EFCC said there was no service rendered to have warranted the payment of the N3.5billion.
That you Gbenga Makanjuola on or about the 20th of December, 2016 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make cash payment of the sum of N50, 000,000.00 (Fifty million naira) to Robert Chidozie Mbonu without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 201 1 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.
The Nation
Emeh Achanga,the CEO of the Miss Petite Nigeria Brand is a lawyer turned blogger. She is very passionate about writing, with several publications and awards to her credit .She is currently working on publishing a collection of short stories which are basically a memoir about her exciting true experiences.
