ICPC arraigns director at accountant-general office over ’employment scam’

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has arraigned Yildiyel Takat, an assistant director at the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF), over alleged employment scam, fraud and conspiracy.

The anti-corruption agency also arraigned Nankpat Dukbong, an administration officer at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) over the same allegations.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Azuka Ogugua, ICPC spokesperson, said the duo were arraigned before O. A. Musa, judge of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Abuja.

The commission, led by its counsel, claimed that the accused persons solicited and collected on separate occasions, the sums of N500,000 and N2,400,000 from their victims in the guise of securing employment for them in the federal civil service.

ICPC said the defendants’ actions are contrary to section 26 and punishable under section 18 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.

BAIL GRANTED

“In two separate ‘motions on notice’ and under sections 34 and 36 of the 1999 constitution as amended as well as sections 162 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, both counsel to the first and second defendants moved for bail application on behalf of their clients,” the statement reads.

“They both sought the relief of the court to use its discretionary powers to grant the bail in the most liberal of conditions.

“In a swift reaction, counsel to ICPC in a counter motion, opposed the prayers sought by counsel to the first defendant, saying that he had been evading trial,

“Counsel also described him as a serial offender who had multiple court cases against him and therefore urged the court to deny him the prayers sought by his lawyer, while the bail application of the second defendant was not opposed.

“The trial judge, after listening to both parties, admitted the first accused person to bail in the sum of N4,000,000 and a surety in like sum who must be a civil servant on grade level 08 and above.

“The surety was also ordered to surrender his letter of first appointment and last promotion as well as his identity card.

“The second accused person was also granted bail in the sum N2,000,000 and a surety in like sum.”

The judge ruled that the sureties must show evidence of residency within the FCT with a clear address, and submit same to the court.

He asked them to undertake a bond to compel the defendants to attend their trial, failure of which will not only result in the revocation of the bail but the prosecution of the sureties.

The matter was adjourned to October 19 for hearing.