The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on February 28, 2014 arraigned the
duo of Apiri Richard Tonye and Paul Charles before Justice Kate Abiri of the
Bayelsa State High Court, Yenegoa, on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy
and stealing.
The
accused persons, Apiri Tonye, a former Head of Capital Expenditure in the Bayelsa
State Accountant-General’s office and Paul Charles, former Accountant, Bayelsa
State Directorate for Project Monitoring and Implementation allegedly diverted
and stole about N14.7m meant for the monitoring and supervision of ongoing
projects in the state.
One
of the charge reads ; “that you Apiri Richard Tonye and Paul Charles on or
about the 3rd day of June 2011 at Yenagoa within the Yenagoa
Judicial division did steal the sum of N9,000,000.00(Nine Million Naira) by
means of a UBA Plc cheque number 37130876 dated 3rd June, 2011 and
paid into Fidelity Bank Plc account number 4020748118 in the name of Tonye R.
Apiri property of Bayelsa State Government and thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 317(5)(9) of the Criminal Code Law Vol. I C14 Laws of Bayelsa State
of Nigeria,
2006”.
They
accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In
view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, A.I Arogha asked the court for a
date to commence trial but the defense counsel, M.A Akindolu and T.O.P Afagha (for
the first and second accused persons) presented a formal application for bail
and prayed that the accused persons be admitted to bail.
Justice
Abiri granted the accused bail in the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,
000,000.00) and one surety each in like sum. The surety must be a level 14
Officer with Bayelsa State Civil Service.
The case was adjourned to
the March 28, 2014 for hearing.
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