The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested and detained one Temitope Banjoko, a supreme court contractor, over allegations of money laundering.
It was gathered that Banjoko, who is currently being detained at the ICPC facility, is the managing director of Asbat Construction Limited.
The construction company was said to have been awarded a contract worth N46,305,000 (N41,674,500 after tax deductions) for the demolition — and evacuation of debris — of four houses at the judges’ residence in Maitama, Abuja, in 2017.
According to report, the contract was not executed but the full sum was disbursed to Asbat Construction Limited, thereby attracting the attention of the ICPC.
“During interrogation and in his statement, the contractor claimed to have utilised the money for something else and expressed regrets that some funds he was expecting were not forthcoming,” a source told Thecable
Banjoko was said to have made a commitment to repay the money after the ICPC began probing the matter.
“Out of the contract sum, the contractor had only been able to repay the sum of N5 million, leaving a net balance of N36,674,500,” another source said.
“Investigations carried out by the ICPC revealed that some of the houses earmarked for demolition have been renovated and are now occupied by new judges.
“This indicates that the houses were not intended to be demolished but to take money out of the system.”
The contractor is expected to be charged to court in the coming days by the anti-corruption
