By Kateng Daniel, Jos
Former Minister of Water Resources, Hon. Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe has expressed dissatisfaction over the Federal High Court judgement that sentenced her, former Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Plateau State, Hon. Raymond Dabo and Leo Jitung for three years for withdrawing N450 million above the threshold of an individual withdrawal.
She noted that, though the judgement vindicated them of the accusation of embezzling the funds, saying it was recognized that the said amount was delivered to the state campaign council.
Justice Musa Kurna, of the Federal High Court Jos, who delivered the Judgement, also gave them an option of N1 million each.
But reacting to the judgement on Wednesday, Mrs. Ochekpe said she has instructed her lawyers to study the judgement with a view to advise them on the next action.
She explained that they all paid the N1 million each and were released to go home.
Ochekpe revealed that three of them were invited to the EFCC office in Gombe in 2016 which they both honoured the invitation in January 2017.
She said all of them don’t know why they were invited initially, but the EFCC Operatives told them that they have been accused of being in custody of stolen fund amounting to N450 million.
“The three of us wrote our statements to the effect that in 2015, there was a presidential and National Assembly election and fund where sent from Abuja to Plateau State.
“Three of us were nominated to receive the fund on behalf of Plateau State PDP, we did that innocently without knowing there will be any attachment to it, we wrote our statements to that effect.
“We were asked to give the record of our assets and our bank accounts and they alleged that it was a stolen fund and we said we didn’t know anything about that.
“The case came to court, our lawyers filed a case of “No case submission” but the Judge ruled against us and said we should filed our defense which we did.
“We filed our defence and it was concluded in October, 2021 and Judgement was fixed for 22 February, 2022. Initially, there was two count charges of money laundering and not withdrawing money through a financial institution and we pleaded no guilty.
“The charges were amended and added that we have retained the proceed of crime and we still pleaded no guilty. In the Judgement yesterday, the Judge discharged and acquainted us on the basis that there was no evidence that we kept the money.
“The money was taken from the Fidelity Bank in a bullion van to the campaign office and the cashier received and acknowledged the receipt of the money. The ALGON Chairman testified that the money was disbursed to the various local government for the election.
“It was on the basis of that the Judge discharged and acquainted us. But we were told that we are convicted on a technical ground, that there was a conspiracy among the three of us and that we did not collect the money through a financial institution.
“We were fine N1 million each, which we all paid and went back home. As far as we are concerned, we are not satisfied with this judgement and we have told our lawyers and they are looking into the matter and they will advise us on what next to do” Ochekpe added.
