Monday, September 21, 2020

ICPC arraigns FMC staff for N17m ghost worker fraud


The Head of Payroll Department at the Federal Medical Centre, Bida , Niger State , Sadiq Sadiq , has been arraigned before Justice Abdullahi Mika ’ ilu of High Court 4 sitting in Minna , Niger State , for allegedly inserting the names of three ghost workers into the payroll of the hospital .
Also arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission , were the Head of Internal Audit , Awesu Bababida, and a worker, Ihuoma Mirian .
They were arraigned on three counts of allegedly siphoning N 17 . 5 m for their personal use , using the names of unknown persons .
The accused were also said to have used their positions to confer corrupt advantages upon themselves .
According to a statement on Sunday by the ICPC spokesman , Mrs Azuka Ogugua , the offences are contrary to sections 19 and 26 ( 1 ) ( c ) and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 .
The counts read in part , “ That you , Sadiq A . Sadiq , Awesu M . Bababida and Ihuoma Mirian , being public officers of the Department of Payroll and Audit Unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Bida , Niger State , sometime in October 2015 to July 2016 or thereabout , within the jurisdiction of the honourable court , did conspire among yourselves : to wit : inserting names of three ghost workers into the payroll of the Federal Medical Centre, Bida . ”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and their counsel prayed the court to grant them bail , which was not opposed by the prosecution .
“ Justice Mika ’ ilu granted the accused bail in the sum of N 5 m each and also ordered them to individually provide two sureties with evidence of ownership of landed properties worth N 5 m each within the jurisdiction of the court , in addition to surrendering their travel documents .
“ The matter was adjourned till October 6 , 2020 , ” the statement said .

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APC Reacts After Governor Dave Umahi, Deputy Were sacked By Court

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