EFCC closes case against Benue Assembly deputy speaker, clerk in alleged N5m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has closed its case against the deputy speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Christopher Adaji and the clerk, Torese Agena.

The commission closed its case on the matter, which is before Justice S. O. Itodo of the Benue State High Court, Makurdi, on Tuesday, November 17.

The state assembly deputy speaker and the clerk are being prosecuted by the Makurdi zonal office of the EFCC on two-count charge of abuse of office and criminal misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N5,040,950 (five million, forty thousand, nine hundred and fifty Naira).

READ ALSO: Two witnesses testify in Benue deputy speaker’s trial for alleged N5.2m fraud

At the sitting this Tuesday, prosecution counsel, George Chia-Yakua, closed its case against the defendants after the testimony of the third prosecution witness (PW3), Gideon Kure, an EFCC staff, who told the court that the commission got incriminating evidence against the defendants from different organisations, from which it tendered 23 exhibits that were admitted in evidence by court.

Before today’s sitting, Clifford Tyover Attle (PW1) and Ifa Celestine Mbakaa (PW2) had testified against the defendants.

Justice Itodo adjourned the matter till December 9, 2020 for cross-examination of PW3 and for the defendants to open their defence.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now