BEVERLY HILLS, November 14, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, arraigned Mrs. Akon Esu-Nte (Alias Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte), an accountant with the Nigeria Prison Service, before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the FCT High Court, Apo, Abuja, on a 6-count charge bordering on fraud, stealing and abuse of office.
Esu-Nte is alleged to have abused her office by stealing over N83 million of prisons funds with which she used to acquire exotic cars and different properties across FCT while earning a monthly salary of N121, 460 as a level 14 officer.
Esu-Nte is also alleged to be a signatory to the accounts of three companies, which include, Abasiaga Global Resources Limited, Abasiono Nigeria Limited and Ememima Global Ventures Limited, which were all established after she was posted from Ministry of Finance to Nigeria Prisons.
Esu-Nte pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her.
One of the charges read: “That you, Akon Esu-Nte (Alias Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte) being a public officer at the Nigeria Prison Service headquarters, Abuja on or about the 9th day of October, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did use your office and position to confer corrupt and unfair advantage on yourself and your associate, ID Integrated Petroleum Product Limited to secure contract worth N27, 790,000.00 (Twenty seven million, seven hundred and ninety thousand naira only) for the supply of 2779 number prisoners Aluminium Cooking Pots at Zones B and F of the Nigeria Prison Service and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
In view of the plea of the accused, counsel to the prosecution, Larrys Aso Peters, asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the accused in prison custody. However, counsel to the accused, S. I. Ameh, SAN, asked the court to grant his client bail as the offence was bailable and that she will be available to face her trial.
Justice Adeniyi granted the accused bail in the sum of N50 million and two sureties who should be of the rank of director in a government establishment.
The sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and swear to affidavit of means.
The case was adjourned to 27 and 28 January 2015 for trial.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State Friday reserved ruling in the N25 billion money laundering and abuse of office charge brought against Micheal Igbinedion and Charles Eboigbodin by the EFCC for January 30, 2015.
Justice J. Liman on Friday November 14, 2014, fixed the January 30 date for judgement after the adoption of written addresses by counsel: Rotimi Jacob SAN for the prosecution and Mike Ozekhome SAN, Ricky Tafa SAN and Barr. Richard O. Ahonaruogo for the accused persons
The accused persons along with their companies: Gava Corporation Limited; Romrig Nigeria Limited; PML Securities Company Limited and PML Nigeria Limited, were arraigned by the anti- graft agency on a 81-count charge bothering on Money Laundering, Misappropriation of funds, conspiracy and Abuse of office.
While addressing the court, Jacobs hinged his submission on the testimonies of prosecution witnesses which, according to him, corroborated the charge, with emphasis on the several public funds deposited into private accounts, and how government funds were used to repay loans collected by former governor Lucky Igbinedion while he was in office.
Jacobs then prayed the court to “accept the prosecution’s case as presented and convict the accused persons as charged”.
But before closing his address, the prosecuting counsel called the attention of the court to the inability of the bailiff to serve the summon earlier issued by it on the former Edo State governor, who failed to present himself in court, after the Appeal Court decision in April, asking him to return to the High Court for trial.
Jacobs disclosed that all efforts by the bailiff to serve Lucky Igbinedion with the summon, met a brick wall as he was always turned back from the gate by security men who told him on all occasions that Igbinedion was out of town.
The EFCC counsel then prayed the court to permit a substituted service of the summon on the last known address of Igbinedion.
“May I apply that the first accused person be served by allowing the prosecution paste the notice at the known address,” he said.
But Justice Liman advised the prosecuting counsel to make an application. According to him, “the summon has expired, you can reapply or ask for a substituted service as there are other means of service. Prosecution must make another application.”
