THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday took Yusuf Agabi, a former director at the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and governorship aspirant in Nasarawa State on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to Justice Adegboyega Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, over an alleged N100 million fraud.

The re-arraignment of Agabi follows an earlier one in 2015 where he was brought before another FCT High Court in Maitama, alongside four others. Agabi had written a petition to the Chief Judge of the FCT seeking reassignment of the matter.

He is currently facing a 46-count charge for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N100 million from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

While he was a Director of Finance at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Agabi was alleged to have received for himself the sum of N100 million belonging to the Federal Government from one Kabiru Paloma while knowing it to have been obtained fraudulently from the bank account of the ministry, an offence contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 68 of the Corrupt Practices Act 2000.

Agabi was also alleged to have on separate occasions collected N400 million from Kabiru Paloma, N50 million from Daniel Obah and another N8.9 million from Babadoko Mohammed which were obtained fraudulently from the accounts of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in 2013.

One of the other four accused persons, Akpore Okeroghene, a Deputy Director of Finance at the ministry, was also accused of receiving the sum of N25 million at separate occasions and through a proxy from Kabiru Paloma as well as N6 million and N2 million respectively from one Nuhu Gadu and Solomon Sunday Tom.

The third accused person, Ayinla Abibu, was also alleged to have received N60 million through a proxy from Zeocat Nig Ltd which he allegedly used to build a house for himself at Ogbomoso, Oyo State. He was alleged to have received N91.4 million through a proxy from Joykings Nig. Ltd.

Idowu Adewale, a deputy director of accounts in the ministry, was also said to have received $100,000 from Kabiru Paloma as well as using documents to wit: payment vouchers of the ministry which were defective in material particulars and designed to mislead his principal for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining various sums of money.

Ntu Ngozi, Deputy Director (Accounts) was also alleged to have received N10.25 million from one Solomon Sunday Tom in March and October 2014.

The arraignment of the accused persons follows a petition written to the Chairman of the ICPC from the office of the Permanent Secretary from the ministry titled “Case of an unauthorised withdrawal of N605,073,540.00 from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs’ 2014 constituency project account with Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja”, upon which investigation was commenced and the leakages traced.

Having taken their plea and pleaded not guilty, the accused persons who had been on a N10 million bail bond granted them by another FCT High Court in Maitama were admitted to the same bail conditions by the new trial court, which the Judge, Justice Adegboyega, said the terms and documents of the conditions from the previous High Court be handed over to the most senior registrar of his court for adoption, else, he would initiate fresh terms.

After a few minutes of deliberations, counsel to both defence and prosecution agreed on the adjourned date by Justice Adegboyega.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to March 1, 2 and 3, 2016 for a day-to-day trial.