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Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Jumoke Akinjide has returned N650 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Akinjide informed Justice Muslim Sule Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos, of the development on Tuesday.
According to her, she wants to reach an out-of-court settlement with the anti-graft commission.
The EFCC had preferred a fraud and money laundering charge against her over the campaign money for the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State received from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
But her lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), told the court that before the start of trial, the party had decided to return the fund complained of by the prosecution through his client.
“I had a word with the EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, and we think it is wise going forward and at this point not to subject this matter to further adjudication and waste the time of the court,” the lawyer said.
“We decided that counsels on all sides should meet to look at the way forward on this charge, the money complained of having been refunded by the party through Jumoke Akinjide.
“My application is that the court should adjourn for further hearing pending the outcome of our discussion.”
Other defence lawyers, Micheal Lana and Akinola Oladeji, were also in support of the plan.
Also, EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo, said: “I confirmed the discussion with the silk this morning. But I want to say that the matter before the court is not principally about campaign funds.
“I also confirmed that the commission had recovered the sum of N650 million, not from the chieftains and principal members of the PDP, but rather from the first defendant (Oloye Jumoke Akinjide).
“Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 allow parties to discuss. In view of the fact that the silk has applied for an adjournment to allow for discussion, we would not be objecting to his application”.
After listening to the submissions of the two parties in the matter, the Presiding judge, Justice Hassan adjourned further hearing in the matter till February 22.