By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Director-General, Campaign for presidential election in Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Modupe Adetokunbo, has admitted in his statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he received N500 million cash through a bank for the conduct of 2015 presidential elections.
He admitted receiving the money before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Nigeria during a cross-examination by counsel to EFCC, Mr I. A. Mohammed, in a trial within trial proceedings to ascertain if he wrote his statement at the EFCC under duress or not.
When asked to examine the statement he made on December 8, 2016 and confirm to the court that the statement contained his name, introduction and how he and the 1st defendant, Mr. Clement Faboyede, received the sum of N500 million from a bank, Adetokunbo who was testifying as a witness said, “This statement is account of what happened, how I collected the money from a bank and the role I played.”
Modupe Adetokunbo, who is the second defendant in a money laundering suit alongside the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Ondo State, Mr Clement Faboyede, are standing trial before a Federal High Court, Lagos over alleged money laundering offence to the tune of N500 million.
They had pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them and were admitted to bail. However before the commencement of trial, they raised an issue that the statements they made at the EFCC were under duress, considering the conditions they were subjected to at the EFCC.
Their objection to admittance of their statements as exhibit resulted in trial within trial to determine the veracity of their claims.
At the resumed trial within trial, Adetokunbo was called to witness box to give evidence.
In his evidence, he told the court that the condition attached to his bail was hard. “We are compelled to write and sign what they want us to write as statements if we are to be admitted to bail,” he said.
Clement Faboyede and Modupe Adetokunbo (1st and 2nd defendants were brought to court on three counts charge of money laundering contrary to Section 1, of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) by Act No 1 of 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2) of the same Act.
The duo were alleged to have on or about 27th day of March, 2015, in Nigeria, within jurisdiction, conspired among themselves to accept cash payment of the sum of N500 million, without going through the financial institution, contrary to Section 18 and punishable under Section 16 (2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended.
The matter continues February 19, 2020 for trial within trial.