Halliburton Ex-Presidential Aide Appears In Court

A former aide in the Presidency, Adeyanju Bodunde, on Wednesday appeared before a Federal High Court, Abuja for allegedly receiving N230 million bribe from expatriates for award of contracts.

The prosecutor, Godwin Obla, in an amended charge told the court that the accused person, sometime between 2002 and 2003, accepted cash payment of N140 million from one George Mark. Obla further said that the accused sometime between 2002 and 2003 accepted cash payment of one million dollars from the same George Mark.

He said that Bodunde’s alleged illegal collection of the money ran contrary to Section 1 and 15(d) of the Money Laundering Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 15(2)(b) of the same Act. Obla said that the accused also within the jurisdiction of the court between 2002 and 2003 accepted another cash payment of 500,000 dollars from one Hans George Christ.

He said that the accused further violated Section 1 and 15 of the Money Laundering Act, 2004 and punishable under Sections 15(2) (b) of the Act. A total of six-count charge was brought against the accused. Bodunde, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to him. “Your Lordship, I do not have any complexities or collected any money from anybody as alleged in that charge; I am not guilty,” he said.

The charge brought against the accused under the Section 1 and 15(d) of the Money Laundering Act, carries a total jail term of two years or with option of N250,000 fines if convicted.

Justice Adamu Bello, however, granted the bail application orally filed by Akinyemi Aremu, counsel to the defendant. Bello stated that Bodunde could only get his temporary freedom if he met all bail conditions of N1 million and a surety in like sum. The matter was adjourned till December 16, for trial.