ICPC Arraigns Director Over Questionable Wealth, N162m Fraud
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – For flaunting unexplainable wealth and living above his lawful income, a Director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Victor Igboanugo, now has a case to answer before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is arraigning Mr Igboanugo over alleged contract fraud of about N162 million and ownership of property valued way above his legitimate income.
The defendant, who at various times worked in the Ministries of Environment and Niger Delta Affairs, is facing a 17-count charge before Justice V.B. Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 23, Apo in Abuja.
A statement signed by Spokesperson for the Commission, Mrs Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, said the charge, bordering on abuse of office and conferring undue advantage upon himself among others, contravenes sections 10, 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same sections.
The statement also quoted Counsel to the ICPC, Henry Emore, as telling the court that Mr Igboanugo, while serving as Secretary of the Ministerial Tenders’ Board, Federal Ministry of Environment, facilitated the award of multiple contracts to private companies where he held personal interests.
The court also heard that the accused, while acting as a Deputy Director of Procurement at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, bought a property in the United States of America for $140,000, a sum way above his legitimate income.
He is further accused of receiving N20 million kickbacks through one of his companies, Phinavic Ventures Ltd, from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lufem Engineering Ltd, Mr. Asiwaju Adekanbi Femi, after the award of contract for the construction of a skill acquisition centre.
Part of the charge reads; “That you Engr. Victor Igboanugo (M) sometime in October, 2008 or thereabout at Abuja, Federal Capital Territory while being a public officer used your position as Deputy Director and Secretary of the Ministerial Tenders’ Board of the Federal Ministry of Environment to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by awarding a contract for the construction of three bedroom semi-detached bungalow at Prototype Housing Scheme, Asaba, Delta State to your company, Echedom Technical & Trading Co. Ltd for a contract sum of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand naira only (N10,500,000:00) and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge levelled against him and the defence counsel put in their application for bail which was not opposed by the prosecution.
Justice Ashi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million with one surety in like sum, who must be an officer not below Grade Level 14 in the Federal Civil Service.
The Judge, who also ordered the accused to submit his international passport to the Court Registrar, adjourned the case to June 19, 2019 for continuation of trial.
