The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, on Tuesday April 25, 2017 arraigned Dr. Fortunate Fiberesima, a former
Chief Executive Officer, State House Medical Centre, Abuja before Justice
Peter. O. Affen of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama,
Abuja on a 6-count charge of money Laundering.
Fiberesima, was alleged to have abused his
position as the Chief Physician to the President in 2012 in awarding contract
to a company where he has interests.
The defendant, who also parades himself as
Fortunate David and David Thank God Fiberesima, was initially meant to be
docked by the EFCC on March 7, when the trial judge observed that, “all charges
are under the ICPC Act not that of the EFCC” and consequently ordered that the
charge be either amended or transferred to the appropriate authority for
prosecution.
At the resumed sitting today, the defendant pleaded
not guilty to all the charges preferred against him by the EFCC.
Count one of the charge reads:
“That you , Dr Fortunate Fiberesima (a.k.a
Fortunate David and David Thank God Fiberesima), being the Former Chief
Executive Office of the state House Medical Centre, Abuja and Chief Physician
to the President and while employed in the public service, sometime in 2012, in
Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly and directly
held a private interest in the contract for land reclamation at the State House
Medical Centre, Abuja in the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Eight Million, Nine
Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N258,950,000.00), which contract was awarded
to T. E & C Limited, a company in which you were a director, and thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Counsel to the defendant, U. B. Eyo, prayed to
the court to grant his client bail on Liberal terms. He added that the accused
has no previous criminal record and he would always be available for trial.
Y. Y. Tarfa, counsel to EFCC, did not oppose the
bail application.
Justice Affen ordered that the defendant should
continue on the bail condition earlier granted him by the EFCC, but added that
the defendant should submit his international passport to the court registrar.
The case was, thereafter, adjourned to June 6, 2017
for commencement of trial.
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