Ex-Minister, Sarah Ochekpe, Others Bag 6 years Jail Term

0
Ex-Minister, Sarah Ochekpe, Others Bag 6 years Jail Term
Ex-Minister, Sarah Ochekpe, Others Bag 6 years Jail Term

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe Zonal Command, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, secured the conviction of a former Minister of Water Resources in the administration former President Goodluck Jonathan, Sarah Ochekpe.

Ochekpe was convicted along with two others, Evan Leo Sunday Jitong and Raymond Dabo, deputy director for Goodluck/Sambo 2015 election campaign and former Acting Chairman of PDP, Plateau State respectively.

Ex-Minister, Sarah Ochekpe, Others Bag 6 years Jail Term
Ex-Minister, Sarah Ochekpe, Others Bag 6 years Jail Term

The trio were convicted and sentenced to six years imprisonment each by Justice H. M. Kurya of the Federal High Court, Jos, Plateau State, on an amended three – count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.

READ ALSO:   Abacha loot: ‘Switzerland returned over $1.040b since 1999’

They were alleged to have received the sum of N450million from Fidelity Bank Plc through cash and wire transfer by some oil companies and former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

Investigation had showed that on 26th March, 2015, the sum of N450million were withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, by Fidelity Bank Plc, Jos main branch and it was handed over to the defendants in cash after they signed for collection.

READ ALSO:   ABIA CHRISTMAS VILLAGE: Govt Ready To Partner Organizers-J Martins
Ex-Minister, Sarah Ochekpe, Others Bag 6 years Jail Term
Ex-Minister, Sarah Ochekpe, Others Bag 6 years Jail Term

Though the defendants claimed that they handed over the money to late Senator Gyang Pwajok, the Plateau State PDP Governorship candidate in 2015, they however failed to provide any evidence to support the claim.

The defendants were convicted on count one, bordering on conspiracy to accept cash payment above threshold under the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2012 (as amended) and sentenced to three (3) years imprisonment with an option of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) fine each.

READ ALSO:   2019: Groups warn Abia APGA factional leaders against destabilizing party

Disclaimer: infonte9ja.com shall not be liable to Opinions, Articles or Features that doesn't emanate from any of its staff and management. We also wish to reiterate that such personal or sponsored opinion, article or feature does not reflect the views of the publishers of infonet9ja.com, but the writer's
For publication of your news content, articles, videos or any other news worthy materials, please send to infonetnews9ja@gmail.com | For Advert and other info, you can call 09061217047 or send a WhatsApp Message to 09061217047

On count two, the defendants were convicted and sentenced to three (3) years imprisonment with an option of N2, 000,000 (Two Million Naira) fine each. The sentences are to run consecutively.

Ex-Minister, Sarah Ochekpe, Others Bag 6 years Jail Term
Ex-Minister, Sarah Ochekpe, Others Bag 6 years Jail Term

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.