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Nigeria: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) have arraigned the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Power, Ndudi Elumelu, and 9 others at a High Court in Abuja before Justice Banjoko, on a 156-count charge. They are charged for criminal conspiracy and breach of trust contrary to section 315 of the Penal Code to which the suspects have pleaded not guilty.
Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Senator Yahaya Ugbane and eight others appeared before an FCT High Court, Abuja, for allegedly withdrawing N6.2 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).The money was meant for the rural electrification of the whole country. Elemelu and others were alleged to have illegally withdrawn the money from CBN account number 0103742014, using a number of companies as fronts. The other accused persons are Senator Nicholas Yahaya Ugbane, Engr. Samuel Idi Gakpe, Dr. Abdullahi Aliu, Mr. Simon Kirdi Name, Engr. Lawrence Kayode Orekoya, Abdusamad Garuba Jahun, Barr. Kayode Oyedeji, Hon. Igwe Paulinus and Hon. Jibo Mohammed.
The 156-count charge accused them of committing a breach of trust by fraudulently withdrawing N6.2 billion in favour of the following companies: Bajot Engineering Company Ltd; Emmason Engineering Co; Liberty Overseas Company Ltd; Madonna Nig. Ltd.; Sunmex Nigeria Ltd; Adolphus Holding Co Ltd; Lax Gak Nig. Ltd; Jidec Nig. Ltd; Tometrix International Ltd; Asia African Trading Company Ltd and others. The charge described their action as a violation of the trust conferred on them as civil servants. The offence is punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532 laws of the Federation of Nigeria
Elumelu and the other suspects involved in the fraud had been playing a hide-and-seek game with the EFCC but surrendered themselves to the anti-graft agency on Monday and are said to have given useful information on their level of alleged involvement in the scandal..
House of Representatives spokesman, Eseme Eyiboh at a press briefing on Tuesday told journalists that inasmuch as the House respected the “integrity” of its members held by the Commission, they would not do anything to impede the process of investigations being carried out by the EFCC.
“We all agreed (at the Executive session) that the EFCC is the creature of Parliament, and it must be allowed to proceed with what they are doing. We cannot begin to impinge on their constitutional rights, because we believe they will adhere to the principle of justice and fair play.”
Similarly, Senate spokesman, Ayogu Eze, said Ugbane “was taken in his private capacity. He was not taken while performing assignment on behalf of the Senate, but that does not mean that we will abandon him.
The form of support we give him is that as our colleague, we visit him, we try to talk with him and we are satisfied that he has shown us that he still innocent, and his in very high spirit.’’
