The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide on Thursday.

Akinjide has been accused of receiving N650m from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the countdown to the 2015 general election.

The money was said to be part of the $115m (N23bn as of 2015) allegedly disbursed by Diezani including to some senior officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Wilson Uwijaren, spokesman of the EFCC said Akinjide would be arraigned on 24 counts of Money Laundering before Justice Ayo Emmanuel of a Federal High Court, Ibadan.

The charge stated that Akinjide, along with the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Yinka Taiwo “conspire among yourselves to  directly take possession of the sum of N650,000,000 which you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful  act to wit: money laundering, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a)  of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

Akinjide first visited the EFCC in August last year where she was made to refund about N10m.

She was later allowed to travel out of the country for medical attention.

A member of the House of Representatives, Aliyu Pategi, stood surety for her but was arrested when Akinjide refused to make herself available as promised.

Azeez