The planned arraignment of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Prince Vincent Ogbulafor before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja was stalled this morning by an unannounced strike action by the Judicial workers Union. Ogbulafor was in court but no sitting.
Prince Vincent Ogbulafor was to be arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja today over alleged N104 million fraud.
The court had last Friday issued hearing notices to Ogbulafor and four others over the decision to arraign them today.
Federal Judicial Workers yesterday said they will cripple court activities in all the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory from Tuesday, May 4, 2010 over the inability of the Federal Government to release a circular for the implementation of the Consolidated Salary structure for Judiciary Staff (CONJUSS).
But the planned 5-day warning strike by federal Government workers to press their demand for higher pay, scheduled to start this morning, was called off at the last minute last night after an emergency meeting between top government officials and leaders of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council.
ICPC had obtained the leave of the FCT High Court, Abuja to arraign Ogbulafor alongside Emeka Ebilah, Henry Ikoh, Jude Nwokoro and Chukwurah Bosah on charges of defrauding the Federal Govern-ment of about N104 million.
The allegation against Ogbulafor includes among others that as Minister for Special Duties (Economic Affairs) under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he (Ogbulafor) in concert with Bosah, the Director of Budget Implementation at the Federal Ministry of Finance, conspired to verify fictitious contracts purportedly executed by companies in which they had interest and subsequently proceeded to ensure that these firms were paid for the non-existent contracts. When the deal was done, the accused persons then allegedly shared the proceeds.