An Account Director with the Federal Ministry of Education,
Matthew Inabo, was, on Wednesday, re-arraigned before the Federal
High Court, Abuja over his alleged involvement in diverting about
N45 million meant for the Federal Government’s Home Grown School
Feeding and Health Programme (HGSFHP).
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
Inabo, however, pleaded not guilty to a 24-count amended charge
dated Oct. 12 shortly after it was read to him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suit was filed
before Justice Inyang Ekwo by Counsel to the Attorney General of
the Federation (AGF), Aminu Alilu.
Inabo was alleged to have fraudulently altered cheques and made
false representations to defraud the government through the HGSFHP
of the Federal Ministry of Education.
He was said to have committed the alleged offences while he
served as the Head of Accounts Section of the HGSFHP in 2007.
The charge read in part: “That you Matthew lnabo of No. 35 Road,
House 12, Gwarimpa, on or about the 4th of April 2007 at the
Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, being the Head of Accounts
Section of the Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme
(HGSFHP) of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja did commit an
offence to wit: you fraudulently altered an Oceanic Bank (now
EcoBank) cheque No: 05477466 originally signed for N422, 270 (by
inserting N16,000,000 before the said figure to make it N16,422,270
and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (a)
of Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M l7 Laws of the Federation 2004
and punishable under the name section of the Act.
“That you Matthew Inabo of No. 35 Road, House 12, Gwarimpa, on
or about the 6th of June, 2007 at the Federal Ministry of
Education, Abuja did commit an offence to wit: you knowingly made
false representation with intent to defraud the Federal Government
by causing the payment to yourself of the sum of N8,000,000 which
you inserted in Oceanic Bank (now EcoBank) cheque No: 05477474 and
you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (b) of
Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation 2004 and
punishable under the same section of the Act.
“That you Matthew Inabo of No. 35 Road, House 12, Gwarimpa, on
or about the 6th of June, 2007 at the Federal Ministry of
Education, Abuja did make a forged document to wit: a Retirement of
Personal Advance of N2,092,500 in the name of Dr (Mrs) Lami Amodu
knowing it to be false and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2) (C) of Miscellaneous
Offence Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation 2004.”
Justice Ekwo, however, granted the request of the defence
lawyer, Abiodun Olusanya, that Inabo should remain on the bail
earlier granted him, contrary to the prosecution counsel’s plea
that he should be remanded pending the conclusion of the trial.
Ekwo held that Inabo could only be allowed to continue to enjoy
the earlier bail “if he deposits his current international passport
with the court.”
The judge then adjourned until Dec. 7 for the commencement of
trial.(NAN)
An Account Director with the Federal Ministry of Education,
Matthew Inabo, was, on Wednesday, re-arraigned before the Federal
High Court, Abuja over his alleged involvement in diverting about
N45 million meant for the Federal Government’s Home Grown School
Feeding and Health Programme (HGSFHP).
Inabo, however, pleaded not guilty to a 24-count amended charge
dated Oct. 12 shortly after it was read to him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suit was filed
before Justice Inyang Ekwo by Counsel to the Attorney General of
the Federation (AGF), Aminu Alilu.
Inabo was alleged to have fraudulently altered cheques and made
false representations to defraud the government through the HGSFHP
of the Federal Ministry of Education.
He was said to have committed the alleged offences while he
served as the Head of Accounts Section of the HGSFHP in 2007.
The charge read in part: “That you Matthew lnabo of No. 35 Road,
House 12, Gwarimpa, on or about the 4th of April 2007 at the
Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, being the Head of Accounts
Section of the Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme
(HGSFHP) of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja did commit an
offence to wit: you fraudulently altered an Oceanic Bank (now
EcoBank) cheque No: 05477466 originally signed for N422, 270 (by
inserting N16,000,000 before the said figure to make it N16,422,270
and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (a)
of Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M l7 Laws of the Federation 2004
and punishable under the name section of the Act.
“That you Matthew Inabo of No. 35 Road, House 12, Gwarimpa, on
or about the 6th of June, 2007 at the Federal Ministry of
Education, Abuja did commit an offence to wit: you knowingly made
false representation with intent to defraud the Federal Government
by causing the payment to yourself of the sum of N8,000,000 which
you inserted in Oceanic Bank (now EcoBank) cheque No: 05477474 and
you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (b) of
Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation 2004 and
punishable under the same section of the Act.
“That you Matthew Inabo of No. 35 Road, House 12, Gwarimpa, on
or about the 6th of June, 2007 at the Federal Ministry of
Education, Abuja did make a forged document to wit: a Retirement of
Personal Advance of N2,092,500 in the name of Dr (Mrs) Lami Amodu
knowing it to be false and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2) (C) of Miscellaneous
Offence Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation 2004.”
Justice Ekwo, however, granted the request of the defence
lawyer, Abiodun Olusanya, that Inabo should remain on the bail
earlier granted him, contrary to the prosecution counsel’s plea
that he should be remanded pending the conclusion of the trial.
Ekwo held that Inabo could only be allowed to continue to enjoy
the earlier bail “if he deposits his current international passport
with the court.”
The judge then adjourned until Dec. 7 for the commencement of
trial.(NAN)