Fraud

By MMuhammad Sabiu

Rochas Okorocha, who is now in the custody of the anti-corruption agency, the EFCC, was denied bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.

Mr Okorocha’s counsel, Ola Olanipekun, was instead directed to notify the anti-graft agency by Justice Inyang Ekwo.

According to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN), Mr Olanipekun requested the court to give Mr Okorocha bail on liberal terms awaiting the hearing and resolution of an application on notice filed on May 25.

The ex-parte motion was filed on May 26 and was dated.

However, Justice Ekwo ruled that, because the case would be heard on Monday, it would be pointless to issue a bail order for the member.

The senior lawyer reportedly intimated that he had filed a motion on notice to have his client released on bail.

The judge, who set a hearing date of May 30 for the motions, told the counsel to notify the EFCC.

Following the EFCC’s allegation that it had been unable to serve Mr Okorocha despite multiple attempts, Mr Ekwo gave the anti-corruption commission May 30 as the last time the matter would be deferred, according to NAN.

After two adjournments for his arraignment, the court threatened to dismiss the case if the EFCC failed to present the senator on the next postponed date.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Federal Government has suspended the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris, over the allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for laundering over N80 billion.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this in a statement signed Wednesday, May 18th, 2022.

The statement read in part, “following your recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of allegations of diversion of funds and money laundering, I write to convey your suspension from work without pay effective 18th May 2022.

“This is to allow proper and unhindered investigation into the serious allegations in line with Public Service Rules 030406.”

The Daily Reality reported that Idris was arrested by the EFCC over N80billion fraud Monday, May 16th 2022.

By Ibrahim Nasidi Saal

The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Professor John Kester Ifeanyichukwu over allegations of bribery and inducement of officers of the Commission.

In a single-count charge brought before Honourable Justice A.O. Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court 12, sitting in Apo, Abuja, ICPC is accusing the Professor of issuing a cheque valued at $40,000 to a staff of the Commission.

The cheque was part of the $50,000 and a house in Abuja, promised to the officer to compromise the investigation by retrieving the accused person’s devices, Macbook S/N Ciml8bugdty3, Macbook S/N W80204j7atn and iPhone Pro11 which were in the custody of ICPC for investigative activities.

John Kester Ifeanyichukwu had earlier been reported to the Commission by the Presidency for alleged acts bordering on corruption, extortion and money laundering.

ICPC, in a charge No: CR/025/2022, informed the court of how the defendant induced one of its operatives to smuggle out a particular iPhone and a laptop and replace them with a dummy that was to be provided by his personal assistant.

The accused person’s action is contrary to section 18 (B) and punishable under section 18 (D) of the corrupt practices and other related offences act, 2000.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. Therefore, he was admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction, and one of them must have a landed property n Abuja.

The trial judge also ordered that the defendant’s international passport and other valid travel documents must be submitted to the court before the next adjourned date; otherwise, his bail will be revoked.

The case has been adjourned to June 21, 2022, for the commencement of the hearing.