ICPC arraigns former Benue SUPEB chairman over N140.8m fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, has arraigned a former Executive Chairman of the Benue State Primary Education Board, Dr Augustine Dzever, in court for alleged illegal transfer of funds belonging to the board.

Dzever was arraigned before Justice S.A Itodo of the Benue State High Court on a nine count charge.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the ICPC, Rasheedat Okoduwa.
The statement reads: “The ICPC’s counsel, Bako Along, informed the court that Dzever had in 2005, while being the Executive Chairman of the board, allegedly transferred the sum of N140,878,378 from the personnel account to the overhead account of the board, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

“The court also heard that the accused had in 2005 allegedly transferred the sum of N24,477,918.98 from the personnel account to the overhead account of the board, thereby contravening Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

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According to the ICPC, other allegations levelled against Dzever included the transfer of N2,477,918 and N20m on different occasions from the personnel account of the board to the overhead account.

“The accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him. His lawyer, S. A. Orkumah, in his bail application, urged the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition.

“Even though the prosecution counsel did not oppose the application, he urged the court to impose stringent conditions considering the seriousness of the matter.

“In his ruling, the judge granted the accused bail on self-recognition and in the sum of N1m and adjourned the matter till June 24 and 28, 2019 for trial,” the statement added.

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