• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

Court Clears Saraki’s Aides Of N3.5bn Fraud Allegation

by Abdullahi Olesin
1 year ago
in News
Hon Gbenga Makanjuola

Hon Gbenga Makanjuola

Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has discharged Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola and Kolawole Shittu, both former aides to former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, of N3.5billion fraud.

Advertisement

Speaking with journalists after the ruling, Makanjuola, who was accused of fraud alongside two others, expressed relief and gratitude to God over the outcome of the suit filed against him.

“To God be the glory, I have been vindicated. It’s been a tough journey for me for almost eight years, but at the end of the day, I just want to thank God for seeing me through,” Makanjuola said.

He praised the court’s decision, citing a recent Supreme Court judgement that deemed the funds in question to be a source of legitimate and valid commercial transaction.

“The court confirmed that with the Supreme Court judgement, the criminal charges cannot proceed again, and that’s the end of it,” he said.

RELATED

Edo LG Polls: I’m Aspiring To Advance Good Governance In Ovia South-West — Omoruyi

Edo LG Polls: I’m Aspiring To Advance Good Governance In Ovia South-West — Omoruyi

12 minutes ago
Brazil Approves LASU As Center Of Excellence For CELPE-Bras Exam

LASU Suspends Exam, Academic Activities

28 minutes ago

Makanjuola and Shittu were represented by Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Mr. Ojukwu (SAN), respectively, who led other lawyers.

The third defendant was represented by Mr. Wale Adewumi Esq and his colleagues.

LEADERSHIP recalls that in 2018, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Makanjuola and three others before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on charges bordering on conspiracy, money laundering and payment of funds without going through financial institutions.

During their arraignment, the EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Iheanacho, alleged that the defendants, including Melrose General Services Limited and Robert Chidozie Mbonu (now at large), conspired to disguise the origin of N3.5 billion paid into Melrose General Services Limited’s Access Bank account in December 2016.

Iheanacho further alleged that Melrose General Services, Obiora Amobi, the operation manager, made a cash payment of N300 million to Robert Mbonu from the N3.5 billion without going through a financial institution.

Additionally, it was alleged that Makanjuola, Saraki’s Deputy Chief of Staff at the time, and Kolawole Shittu, a cashier in the Senate President’s office, made cash payments of $500,000 without using a financial institution in December 2016.

The EFCC claimed that the offences violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and were punishable under the same Act.

The defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N250m each with two sureties.

The defendants in 2020 challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the criminal charges, same being an invalid charge which violates the principles of law. The court, having listened to arguments of both parties, struck out the case based on an invalid and improper charges.

However, in January, 2021, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), re-filed the criminal charges against the defendants at Federal High Court, Abuja.

In May 2024, they were rearraigned before Hon. Justice P.O. Lifu after the third amended charges bordering on conspiracy, accepting cash payments beyond the threshold and stealing.

The defendants, again, pleaded not guilty, and their counsels made applications for bail, which were granted.


We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →

Join Our WhatsApp Channel




Tags: Bukola SarakiGbenga Makanjuola
SendShareTweetShare
Previous Post

IA Foundation Hails UNICEF On e-Birth Registration Initiative In Nigeria

Next Post

Understanding Discrimination Against PWDs And Consequences

Abdullahi Olesin

Abdullahi Olesin

You May Like

Edo LG Polls: I’m Aspiring To Advance Good Governance In Ovia South-West — Omoruyi
News

Edo LG Polls: I’m Aspiring To Advance Good Governance In Ovia South-West — Omoruyi

2025/08/02
Brazil Approves LASU As Center Of Excellence For CELPE-Bras Exam
Education

LASU Suspends Exam, Academic Activities

2025/08/02
Bago
News

ADC Condemns Shutdown Of Radio Station In Niger

2025/08/02
Gov Sani Distributes 400 Trucks Of Fertilizer To 100,000 Kaduna Farmers
News

Gov Sani Distributes 400 Trucks Of Fertilizer To 100,000 Kaduna Farmers

2025/08/02
Naira Swap: Kwara Police To Patrol Bank Areas, Warns Hoodlums
News

Police Clash With Community Over Land Dispute In Abuja

2025/08/02
Zulum Shares N734m, Books, 6,330 Bags, Food To 4,945 ‘Almajiri’ Schools
News

Zulum Allays Borno Residents’ Fears Over Alau Dam

2025/08/02
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

Edo LG Polls: I’m Aspiring To Advance Good Governance In Ovia South-West — Omoruyi

LASU Suspends Exam, Academic Activities

ADC Condemns Shutdown Of Radio Station In Niger

Abure-led Labour Party Faults INEC Over Party’s Omission In By-election

Gov Sani Distributes 400 Trucks Of Fertilizer To 100,000 Kaduna Farmers

Police Clash With Community Over Land Dispute In Abuja

Zulum Allays Borno Residents’ Fears Over Alau Dam

Police Summon Sowore For Alleged Forgery, Inciting Disturbance

Tinubu Celebrates Ex-VP Sambo At 71

NSE President Urges Stronger Nigeria–Japan Synergy For Infrastructure Dev’t

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.