By: Valentine Adese (JP),
Finally, the former Nigerian Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe has disclosed that, she and the other two persons (Hon. Raymond Dabo and Eveng. Leo Sunday) convicted and sentenced to prison over violation of financial regulations/law, are dissatisfied with the Judgment as delivered by Hon. Justice Musa Kurya of the Federal High Court (Jos Division).
She said they are currently consulting with their lawyers and other experts on the next line of action.
Mrs. Sarah, who took her time to narrate the journey of the case from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s office in Gombe in 2015 and to their subsequent arraignment at the Federal High Court (Jos Division) in 2018, appreciated God, her family, friends and other well wishers for standing by her through the trails.
She said, “Let me start by appreciating God, my family, my friends and well wishers that have been part of this journey.
“It was a tedious and stressful one though, since December 2016, when we receive letters of invitation to Gombe EFCC office.
“We were invited to assist in some investigation, which we didn’t know. It was on getting to the EFCC office in Gombe that we got to know that, there were allegations of some missing funds, which we were said to have been involved in and we were made to write statements, as to what we exactly know about the funds.
“And it turned out to be that, the funds were related to the Presidential Campaigns of 2015.
“The investigation took about a year and then we were arraigned in Court in 2018 and since then, we have been going to the Court.
“At a point, our Lawyers filed for a “No Case Submission”, but the Judge ruled against it and said we should go into defense, which we did.
“Today, he delivered his Judgment, which involved a conviction of two count charges of Conspiracy and withdrawing of fund not through financial institution.
“The third count was an allegation of retention of the funds, which is N450 million, but from the investigation of the Court, and from our defense, the Judge himself ruled that, there was no evidence that, we retained the funds because it was proven that, the funds were taken to the campaign office.
“Then we were sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of a fine of One Million Naira, which we have paid.
“But, we are not satisfied with the Judgment of the Court and so we are consulting with our lawyers alongside other experts on the next line of action.
“Like I said, I am grateful to God for the journey or the experience of the past 5 years and in spite of the Court Judgment today, I am back home with my family, friends and well wishers.
“You can see that, there are people still around here with me, who have come to pray and to encourage me over what has happened.
“We trust that, the God in heaven, whom I serve, will vindicate me and the two others at the end of the day”.
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