NBC boss Kawu, three others re-arraigned over N2.5b fraud case

The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission
(NBC) Moddibbo Kawu was re-arraigned with three others on Monday
before a Federal High Court in over alleged fraud in the handling
of N2.5 billion part of seed grant for Digital Switch-Over (DSO)
project of the Federal Government.

Modibo was re-arraigned with Pinnacle Communications Limited,
its Chairman Lucky Omoluwa and the firm’s Chief Operating Officer,
Dipo Onifade on Monday on an amended charge filed by the
prosecution.

When an amended charge was read to the defendants on Monday,
they pleaded not guilty.

They were earlier arraigned on May 3, 2019 on a 12-count charge
filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related
offences Commission (ICPC) to which they equally pleaded not
guilty.

After their re-arraignment, Justice Folasade Giwa-Ogunbanjo
allowed them to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted
them.

They were each granted bail at N100 million and two sureties at
their first arraignment.

Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo noted that the prosecution was yet to
file a report of its verification of the information supplied by
the sureties presented by the defendants in respect of the earlier
bail granted them.

The judge noted even though the prosecution was, on May 5, this
year, ordered to file the report within five days, it failed to
comply with the directive.

She consequently halted proceedings and insisted that the
prosecution comply with the order made by the court before further
proceedings could be conducted in the case.

The judge stood down the case and insisted that the prosecution,
represented by Henry Emore and E. Shogunle, must comply with the
court’s order.

When proceedings resumed some hours later, Emore said the
motion, reporting verification of the bail conditions has been
deposited in the court’s registry.

Upon going through a copy of the motion, the judge drew the
attention of the lead defence lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN)
toparagraphs 3d and 3e, where the prosecution raised issues about
addresses of the sureties.

Izinyon said the issues raised in both paragraphs had been
addressed in a subsequent motion filed by the defence.

Justice Giwa Ogunbanjo subsequently adjourned till Thursday for
the hearing of a motion by the defence, challenging the additional
proof of evidence filed by the prosecution, where it indicated its
plan to call additional two witnesses.

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