EFCC Explains How Ex-Customs Boss Allegedly Committed N3bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday
arraigned one Bridget Okafor, a former Assistant Comptroller
General of Nigeria Customs on a 13-count charge bordering on abuse
of office to the tune of N3,336,176,661.24.

She was arraigned before Justice Venchak S. Gaba of a Federal
Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Kwali.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Bridget Chienyezu Okafor,
whilst being employed in the public service and serving as
Assistant Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service in charge
of finance and revenue, sometime in 2015 at Abuja within the
jurisdiction of this honourable court, did knowingly acquire a
private interest in a contract awarded by Nigeria Customs Service
to Erman Global Energy Engineering Nigeria Limited, a company in
which your children are directors and for which the Nigeria Customs
Service paid the sum of eighty-nine million, nine hundred and
ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and sixty-four naira
(N89,999,964.00) only and you thereby committed an offence contrary
and punishable under section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and other
Related Offences act, 2000.”

She pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

Counsel for the EFCC, Francis Jirbo, thereafter, asked the court
for a date for commencement of trial, in order to enable the
prosecution present its witnesses.

Defence counsel, Efut Okoi, however, informed the Court of a
pending application before the court seeking bail for the
defendant.

Arguing the application for bail, Okoi, said: “The defendant has
never been arraigned before any court for any alleged offence
throughout her 35 years of service and she was also granted bail by
the prosecution. She is a mother and a wife, hence she cannot jump
bail.”

Okoi, thus, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail on
liberal terms.

Responding, Jirbo, said he had no case to challenge the
affidavit, as “she has been on bail by the commission and she
always honours the Commission’s invitation.”

The trial judge, thereafter, admitted her to bail in the sum of
N5 million, with two sureties in like sum, who must be within the
jurisdiction of the court, and who must be a civil servant not
below the Grade Level 14. She was also ordered to submit her
international passport with the Court register.

The matter has been adjourned to July 3, 2019 for hearing.

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