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Prof. Edwin Onyeneje, a former
Rector, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, on Wednesday
appeared in a Federal High Court, Enugu, for alleged N83 million
fraud. Onyeneje and Dr Leonard Ugwu were arraigned by the Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a seven-count
charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by tricks.
The others arraigned for the alleged
fraud were Mr Ferdinand Onah and Mr Basil Offoh, who allegedly aided and
abetted the fraud. The alleged amount was approved for the procurement of
scientific equipment in preparation for re-accreditation of some programmes in
the institution. Offoh was accused of aiding and abetting the release of
N50 million to the former rector when he served as Administrative Secretary to
Onyeneje.
Ugwu, who served as the Chief Store
Officer of the institution allegedly released N53.2 million to the former
rector for a project which was not executed. The offences contravened
Sections 8 (a) and 1 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance
Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. The accused pleaded
not guilty to the charges. The defence Counsel, Mr Benedict Chijioke,
objected to the arraignment, contending that there was a judicial panel of the
enquiry on the matter.
“If we allow a situation where a
court is sitting and the ICPC is doing whatever they are doing it means
independence of the judiciary is just a robot,” he said. Chijioke told the
court that the accused person were already on administrative bail of the ICPC
and would always attend their trials. In her ruling, Justice Dugbo
Oghoghorie, announced that the administrative bail of the accused would
continue. Oghoghorie adjourned the matter till April 14 for the hearing of
the preliminary objection raised by the defence.
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