...Another for N8
Million Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has
arraigned 22 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC
and a retired INEC director, Ahmed Stephen Ozouche, in Kogi State for offences
bordering on criminal conspiracy.
They were arraigned before Justice Alaba Ajileye of the Kogi
State High Court, Koton-Karefee.
It was alleged that sometimes in March 2015, the defendants
engaged themselves in criminal act of conspiracy to fraudulently obtain the sum
of N32, 120,000 (Thirty two Million, One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira)
only as benefits to themselves during the 2015 general elections.
Prosecuting counsel, G.K. Latona, informed the court that the
matter was slated for arraignment. "However, due to the absence of the
second defendant, I will be seeking for a short adjournment to enable me
determine the next step to take regarding the matter," he said.
The defendant was said to be among the INEC staff that lost
their lives in a tragic motor accident that occurred in Kogi recently.
The defence team, however, argued that "the prosecution
ought to have known by now that the second defendant cannot be in court to take
his plea", and so urged the court to take the plea of the defendants in
court. Justice Ajileye, thereafter, ordered those present should take their
pleas.
One of the counts reads: "That you Ahmed Stephen
Ozovehe, Retired Director with Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC)/ Election Observer, Adison Mailafiya Administrative Secretary INEC Kogi
State and Ogwudu Edeh Micheal, Deputy Director, INEC sometime in March 2015 in
Lokoja within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did engage yourselves in
criminal conspiracy to confer benefit of the sum of N32,120,000 (Thirty two
million, one hundred and twenty thousand naira) only from Haliru Haruna, Sase
David Z, Dauda Usman Umaru, Christopher Utile, Garba Zubairu Adamu and James
Yiyeh all electoral officers of INEC in Kogi State in relation to their
function of conducting the General Elections, 2015 and thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 26(1)(i) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offenses Act. 2000 and punishable under Section 10(a)(ii) of the same
Act."
They all pleaded "not guilty" when the charge was
read to them.
They were afterwards admitted to bail in the sum of N10
million, one surety in like sum, the surety must not be below level 12 and must
be a Civil Servant (State or Federal).
Matter has been adjourned to December 6 and 13, 2018 for hearing.
In another development, the EFCC also arraigned Helena
Chinelo Odogwu a cash officer at United Bank for Africa, Adankolo Branch
Lokoja, before Justice Ajileye on a one-count charge bordering on theft and
misappropriation of N8 million ( Eight Million naira) only.
It was alleged by a petitioner that the defendant stole from
the vault and misappropriated the said sum of money when she was the cash
officer.
In the course of the investigation it was discovered that N8m
was missing from the vault and the defendant manipulated the record of the bank
to conceal the fraudulent act.
The charge reads: "That you Helena Chinelo Odogwu on or
about the 17th day of July, 2018 in Lokoja within the Jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court while being the cash officer of Adankolol branch of United
Bank of Africa (UBA) Lokoja, stole the sum of Eight Million Naira (N8, 000,000)
being money belonging to the United Bank for Africa and thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 286 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under
Section 287 of the same Act."
The defendant pleaded "not guilty" to the charge.
The defendant was thereafter admitted to bail in sum of N5m,
one surety in like sum; surety must not be below the level of a principal
officer.
Matter has been adjourned to December 13, 2018 for
hearing.
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