The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed how the sum of N605,073,540.00 fraudulently withdrawn from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs’ 2014 constituency project account with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was shared.
The said money was allegedly shared among the former governorship aspirant in Nassarawa State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Yusuf Agabi, who was a Director of Finance at the ministry, and four others in the ministry.
Other persons who participated in the fraudulent deal are; Akpore Okeroghene (a deputy director of finance at the ministry as 2nd accused), Ayinla Abibu (3rd accused person), Idowu Adewale (a deputy director of accounts in the ministry as 4th accused) and Ntu Ngozi, Deputy Director (Accounts) as 5th accused person.
The problem started when the office of the Permanent Secretary from the ministry petitioned the Chairman of the ICPC over the fraud.
The petition titled: “Case of an unauthorized withdrawal of the sum of N605,073,540.00 from the ministry of Niger Delta affairs’ 2014 constituency project account with Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja”.
Consequently, the commission commenced investigation into the allegation and the leakages were unravelled.
ICPC, having secured a leave to arraign Agabi and four others for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N605 million from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, preferred a 46 count charge against them.
However, Yusuf Agabi (the first accused person) and Ntu Ngozi (fifth accused person) avoided their arraignment before Justice Husseini Baba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
At the arraignment in Abuja, Agabi could not produce himself in court as he was said to have travelled for the lesser hajj, after being served summons by the ICPC prosecuting counsel, Paul Bassi, while the fifth accused (Ntu Ngozi) was also said to have travelled to her village.
As such, the prosecuting counsel sought a short adjournment for the accused persons to be produced in court for their arraignment.
Counsel to the second, third and fourth accused persons, Rotimi Ojo, who were present in court did not object to the relief sought by the prosecution, he rather urged the court to allow the accused persons continue to enjoy the administrative bail granted them by ICPC till they are arraigned.
Justice Baba, the trial judge subsequently granted the prayers as sought and adjourned the matter to September 16 2015 for arraignment of the accused persons.
According to the charge sheet, Yusuf Agabi, a director of finance at the ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (being a public officer), was alleged to have received for himself the sum of N100 million belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria from one Kabiru Paloma, knowing same to have been obtained fraudulently from the bank account of the ministry, an offence contrary to Section 13 and punishable under section 68 of the Corrupt Practices Act 2000.
He was also alleged to have on separate occasions in 2013, collected a total sum of N400million from Kabiru Paloma, the sum of N50million from Daniel Obah and another sum of N8.9million from Babadoko Mohammed obtained fraudulently from the accounts of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
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