An Assistant Director within the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, OAGF, Mr. Yildiyel Musa Takat and an Administration Officer on the National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, Mr. Nankpat Dukbong have been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over allegations of fraud, employment rip-off and conspiracy.
The duo had been introduced earlier than Honourable Justice O. A. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court 7, sitting in Jabi, Abuja.
In a 6-count cost, the Anti-graft Agency accused the defendants of conspiracy, abuse of workplace and defrauding unsuspecting job seekers to the tune of Two Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,900,000).
The Commission instructed the Court of how the accused individuals solicited and picked up on separate events the sums of Two Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,400,000) and Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) from their victims within the guise of securing employment for them within the Federal Civil Service.
While the primary defendant (Takat) was charged on counts 1, 2, 4, and 5, the second defendant (Dukbong) was charged on depend 1, 3, 4, and 6 respectively.
Their actions are opposite to Section 26 and punishable beneath Section 18 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The accused individuals pleaded not responsible to all costs after they had been learn to them.
In two separate “Motions on Notice” and pursuant to sections 34 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended in addition to sections 162 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, each counsel to the primary and second defendants moved for bail software on behalf of their shoppers.
They each sought the aid of the Court to make use of its discretionary powers to grant the bail in essentially the most liberal of situations.
In a swift response, counsel to ICPC in a counter movement, opposed the prayers sought by counsel to first defendant, saying that he had been evading trial, describing him as a serial offender who had a number of court docket instances in opposition to him.
He due to this fact urged the Court to disclaim him the prayers sought by his lawyer, whereas the bail software of the second defendant was not opposed.
The trial choose after listening to each events admitted the primary accused particular person to bail within the sum of Four Million Naira (N4,000,000) and a surety in like sum, who should be a civil servant on grade degree 08 and above.
The surety was additionally ordered to give up his letter of first appointment and final promotion in addition to id card.
The second accused particular person was additionally granted bail within the sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) and a surety in like sum.
Justice Musa additionally dominated that the sureties should present proof of residency throughout the FCT with clear tackle and snap themselves in entrance of their residents and undergo court docket.
He equally requested them to undertake a bond to compel the defendants to attend their trial, failure of which might not solely outcome to the revocation of the bails.
The matter was adjourned to the nineteenth of October 2023 for listening to.
Confidence Okwuchi
