By Damilola Olufemi

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of the Managing Director of Alliance Boots Limited, Henry Iloka, over offences bordering on forgery and false statements in relation to a ₦182.7 million consultancy contract under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

Iloka’s company was awarded the contract by the Federal Ministry of Environment for HYPREP Media and Public Relations in Ogoniland, valued at ₦182,721,000.

According to the ICPC, the convict submitted forged documents during the bidding process, falsely claiming prior contract executions with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission.

He was also found to have made false statements to investigators during the commission’s investigation.

One of the counts established that Iloka knowingly misrepresented the authenticity of pre-qualification documents submitted in his Expression of Interest, including a forged letter allegedly issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Another count showed that he forged a document titled “Letter of Award of Contract for Production and Transmission of NCC Weekly Telecom Today Programme,” purportedly issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission, and submitted same as part of the procurement process.

Delivering judgment, Justice U.P. Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court found the defendant guilty on all four counts.

The court sentenced him to fines of ₦100,000 each on counts one and two for making false statements, and ₦500,000 each on counts three and four for forgery, with all fines to be paid cumulatively.