Ope Saraki in court Ope Saraki in court Google The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a former Senior Special Assistant to Kwara State governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Ope Saraki, on a money laundering charge. Arraigned before Justice Babangana Ashigar of Federal High Court, Ilorin, Kwara State, on March 24, Saraki, a cousin to immediate-past President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, was alleged to have received a cash payment of N11.1m from one Kunle Adimula, an employee of Kwara State Government, in February 2019. The sum, according to EFCC, “exceeded the cash payable to an individual and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 and 16 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 of the same Act.” While the prosecuting counsel, Sesan Ola, pushed for prompt commencement of the trial in order to enable the prosecution to call its witnesses and prove its case, the def...