Benue Governor Samuel Ortom
Benue Governor Samuel Ortom
ICPC Arraigns Gov Ortom’s Aide, other over N4.7bn
Fraud
Two officials of the Benue State Government, Mr. Stephen Amase,
Principal Private Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, Samuel
Ortom and Mr. Manger T Emmanuel, a former Commissioner of Works and
presently, Special Adviser, Ministry of Energy, Science and
Technology, Benue State have been arraigned by the Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
before the Benue State High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State
and presided over by Justice S.O Itodo.
The duo were arraigned for conferring unfair advantage upon
themselves and for holding indirect private interest in a contract
valued at N4,766,858,449.63(Four billion seven hundred and sixty
six million eight hundred and fifty eight thousand four hundred and
forty nine naira, sixty three kobo) only, an offence which
contravenes Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other
Related Offences Act, 2000.
The prosecution counsel for ICPC, Mr. G. O Iwuagwu informed the
Judge that sometime in March 2016, the first accused person, Mr.
Stephen Amase while being a public servant as the Principal Private
Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, conferred unfair
advantage upon himself by using his position to secure the award of
a contract to Tongyi New International Construction Limited for the
sum of N4,766,858,445.63, from the government he is serving,
thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under
section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act,
2000.
Iwuagwu also told the Judge that the second accused person, Mr.
Manger T.Emmanuel conspired with the Principal Private Secretary by
using his position to award a contract to an unqualified company
Tongyi New International Construction Limited for the sum of
N4,766,858,445.63, in a deliberate act of misleading the State
Tenders Board and State Executive Council in the award of the
contract, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable
under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Act, 2000.
The counts were read and the accused persons pleaded not guilty,
the defence counsel, Mr. C. A. K. Asheka, SAN made application for
their bail, which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel.
Justice Itodo granted them bail in the sum of N10,000,000 with
one surety each of not less than grade level 16 and serving with
the Benue State Government. The sureties are to deposit evidence of
ownership of landed property within Makurdi metropolis.
The case was adjourned to 5th, 6th and 7th of February, 2020 for
further hearing.
Signed: Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, mni
Spokesperson for the Commission