ICPC Arraign PHCN Official For Alleged N50,000 Gratification

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on Thursday arraigned an employee of PHCN, Omolaolu Gabriel, before an FCT High Court, Abuja, for allegedly collecting N50,000 gratification.
Gabriel was arraigned on a three-count charge of fraudulent acts.

The prosecutor, Mr Kalu Ugbo, told the court that the accused had between April and June 2013, while being a public officer, demanded for the amount as gratification for himself.

He said that the accused collected the sum from Mr Francis Agwu of Messer, Chyfran Integrate Works.

Ugbo said the offence was contrary to and punishable under the Corrupt Pratices and Other Related Offences Act, 2,000.

He further said that the accused purportedly collected the sum as a gift from Agwu and also as an inducement for the accused to release a correspondence dated May 21, 2013.

The letter was entitled: “Application for permission to purchase and instal 1 No. 50 KVA  33/0/415 KV Transformer for Chief Solo Akuma’’ of Mabushi, Abuja.

He alleged that the action of the accused violated the Act.

The ICPC prosecutor told the court that the accused used his office as the Manager (PC and M) to confer corrupt advantage upon himself by receiving the gratification to released the correspondence to Agwu.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Ugbo prayed the court for an adjournment to produce witnesses in court.

The accused, through his counsel, Mr Uwgu Onoja (SAN), applied for bail.

Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf admitted him to bail for N500,000 and a surety who must be resident within the FCT and  produce proof of ownership of a landed property.

The judge also ordered that if the accused failed to meet up the bail conditions, he should be remanded in Kuje Prison.

He adjourned further hearing in the case to June 13. (NAN)

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