Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr. Kenneth Kobani, and a politician, Mr. Samuel Okpoko, on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N750,000,000.
They were before Justice B. Bilikisu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Specifically, the defendants were docked for allegedly collecting N750,000,000 from the Garrison branch of a new generation bank in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on the eve of the 2015 general elections.
Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement yesterday that the money was part of the infamous $115 million Diezani Alison-Madueke cash deployed to bribe several politicians and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
Kobani, Uwujaren said, allegedly collected N50 million out of the heist while Okposo allegedly collected the remaining N700 million. When the charges were read to them, the accused pleaded “not guilty.”
The prosecution counsel, C. A. Okoli, told the court that he was ready for trial and prayed that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.
However, the lead defence counsel, C. A. Okala, SAN, sued for the bail of the defendants. Justice Bilikisu admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N50 million and a surety each in like sum.
She adjourned the matter till June 4 for trial.
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