ICPC arraigns Ortom’s aides for N4.7bn fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has accused Stephen Amase, the principal private secretary to Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, of committing N4.76 billion fraud and arraigned him at the state High Court in Makurdi.

Amase was arraigned alongside a former Commissioner for Works in the state, Manger Emmanuel.

Emmanuel is the current Special Adviser, Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology.

According to a statement issued at the weekend by the ICPC spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, the duo were arraigned before Justice S.O. Itodo for conferring an unfair advantage on themselves and holding indirect private interest in a contract valued at over N4.76 billion.

The ICPC spokesperson said the alleged offence contravened Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The statement said: “The prosecution counsel for the ICPC, Mr. G. O. Iwuagwu, informed the judge that sometime in March 2016, the first accused person, 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, Emmanuel conspired with the principal private secretary by using his position to award a contract to an unqualified company, Tongyi New International Construction Limited, in the same amount in a deliberate act of misleading the state’s 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.”

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The ICPC said the accused persons pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned.

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