A federal high court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the remand in prison of Gbenga Makanjuola, an aide to Senate President Bukola Saraki over alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦3.5 billion.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had preferred an 11 count charge against Makanjuola, Obiorah Amobi and a company, Melrose General Services Limited bordering on fraud allegations. They however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

 Counsel to the EFCC, Ekene Iheanacho prayed the  court that the accused be remanded in prison and also sought for a trial date.

In his submission, Makanjuola’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN) drew the attention of the court to a bail application on behalf of the first accused which he said had been served on the prosecution and sought the court’s permission to move it.

Arguing his application, Erokoro said the accused was a former member of the House of Representatives and a full-time staff at the Senate, as such was prepared to face trial.

“My client is a full-time staff at the Senate and is not a flight risk. He was a member of the House of Representatives. I urge the court to grant him bail to prepare for his trial,” he said.

However in his response, Iheanacho, urged the court to dismiss the bail application on the grounds that the accused constitutes flight risk as according to him, one of the defendants had absconded hence the chances that the other defendants would abscond were now higher with their arraignment, He urged the court to refuse the request of the defence for bail.

After listening to the submissions of both counsels in the matter, Justice Babs Kuewumi adjourned the case till October 9 for ruling on the bail applications, ordering that the accused be remanded until determination of the applications.

In the charge, the accused were alleged to have, in December 2016 conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of the sum of ₦3.5 billion paid into the account of Melrose.

According to the prosecution, the accused took control of the sum which was transferred from the Nigeria’s Governors Forum account into an Access Bank account operated by Melrose.

The EFCC maintained that they ought to have known that the sum represented proceeds of unlawful activities which contravenes the provisions of sections 15, 15 (2), 15(3), 18, and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act 2011.