The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned Banu alongside Travel Messenger Company Limited and one Olarewaju Adeniyi on a nine count charge before Justice Babangana Ashigar.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves to launder the sum of about N411,000,000 belonging to the Kwara State government.
The charge read, “That you, Olarewaju Adeniyi, Ademola Banu and Travel Messenger Limited, between January to December 2018 in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired among yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: conversion of the sum of N411,000,000.00 only, property of Kwara State government, which sum you reasonably ought to know was derived from fraud, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the money laundering (prohibition) (amendment) act, 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) and (4) of the same act.”
The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Addressing the court, counsel to the EFCC, Nnaemeka Omewa, said following the plea of the accused, the court should oblige the prosecution team a trial date to enable proof of the case.
He further urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole and Bamidele Ibironke, however prayed Justice Ashigar to grant bail to their clients, arguing that the offences were bailable.
Opposing the bail applications, the prosecuting counsel filed a counter affidavit and urged the judge not to accede to the request.
Justice Ashigar before adjourning the case to February 10, 2020 ordered the defendants to be remanded in the EFCC custody.
