The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Makurdi
zonal office, on Tuesday arraigned former Vice-Chancellor of the
Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), Emmanuel
Kucha.
Kucha was arraigned before Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon at Federal
High Court Makurdi, Benue State on a four-count charge of
conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of office and
gratification.
The former vice Chancellor, being a public officer of the
Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State was alleged
to have been involved with obtaining money as bribe in the course
of performing his official duties.
One of the charges reads:
“That you Emmanuel Kucha whilst serving as the Vice-Chancellor
of Federal University of Agriculture, between 2012 and 2017 in
Makurdi within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did accept
the total sum of N70,327,197 (Seventy Million, Three Hundred and
Twenty Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira) through
several payments into your Guaranty Trust Bank Account No:
0124395144 as a bride for performing your official act and thereby
committed an offence contrary to section 18(c) of the Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under
section 18(d) of the same Act”.
He pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read to him even
as prosecution counsel, Y. Y. Tarfa confirmed to Court that he
received the bail application of the defendant and prayed for a
date to open his case,
On his part, defence counsel, Timothy Dim, moved his bail
application and urged the Court to grant his client bail on liberal
terms, and to remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending the
perfection of his bail condition which the Court granted.
Justice Olajuwon granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N10
Million Naira with one surety in like sum.
He added that the surety must be public servant with the federal
or Benue State government on grade level 17 and must submit two
recent passport photographs. Address of the surety must be
verified, and Court must confirm the authenticity of the letter and
documents the surety presents to Court.
The suspect was remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection
of his bail condition while the case was adjourned to January 5,
2020, for commencement of trial.
In another development, the Makurdi Zonal Office of the EFCC on
Tuesday secured the conviction of a 22-year-old Damilola Adeyemo,
whose case was before Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon at the Federal High
Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State.
Based on a plea bargain agreement with the Commission, Damilola
Adeyemo was arraigned on a two-count charge for dishonestly making
use of the identity of another man and fraudulently obtaining the
sum of N230,000 only which part of the proceeding was used in the
acquisition of an iPhone 7.
One of the charges read thus:
“That you, Damilola Adeyemo on or about 6th of September, 2019
in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court without
lawful authority engaged in acquisition of an iPhone 7 with IMEI
359465081928295 knowing that the said iPhone 7 was proceeded of
criminal activity and thereby committed an offence, contrary to
Section 18(1) of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission
(Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 18(2) of the
same Act”.
Adeyemo pleaded “guilty” to the charge and in view of his plea,
prosecuting counsel, Y. Y. Tarfa, urged the Court to accept the
plea bargain agreement and convict him accordingly.
Justice Olajuwon pronounced him guilty and subsequently
convicted him and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an
option of fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira).
He was also to pay the sum of N230,000.00 which he had refunded
during the course of investigation back to the complainant as
restitution.
The Convict shall forfeit the said iPhone 7 to the Federal
Government of Nigeria.
Daily Sun gathered that trouble started for Damilola Adeyemo
when he was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission on the 4th November, 2019 in Lagos in relation to
a case of dishonestly making use of the identity of another and
fraudulently obtaining money. The convict was using several
accounts to defraud people.