ICPC arraigns former SMEDAN DG over alleged N184.5m fraud

macfranc007 September 25, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Wale Akinola

- ICPC has arraigned former SMEDAN director general over alleged N184.5 fraud

- He was arraigned on 27 counts bothering on money laundering and embezzlement

- Masari was said to have fraudulently awarded constituency project contracts to the tune of N184.5 million without due process

The Independent Corrupt Practices Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday, September 24, arraigned Bature Umar Masari, a former director general of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) before an FCT high court sitting in Apo, Abuja.

Channels TV reports that he was arraigned on 27 counts bothering on money laundering and embezzlement.

NAIJ.com gathered that according to the charge, Masari fraudulently awarded constituency project contracts to the tune of N184.5 million without due process.

He was also accused of receiving the sum of N50 million in November 27, 2014, from one of the contractors and distributed part of the sum to some other persons.

This, according to the ICPC, contravenes the provisions of Section 10 of the corrupt practices and other related offences act 2000.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges read to him after which his lawyer Mamadu Magaji, urged the court to grant him bail – a request the prosecution did not object to.

After listening to both parties, the court granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties who must be in the civil service and at director level. The trial was then adjourned to November 26, 2018.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) withdrew the two-count charge it filed against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and its managing director/chief executive officer, Nsima Ekere.

According to the report, ICPC had accused NDDC and Ekere of refusing to honour invitation and request for documents in relation to the construction of Umuihe-Odo-Umuanya road, Umuahia South local government area of Abia state.

PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the best news updates

Prosecution lawyer, Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha announced ICPC’s decision to withdraw the charge when the case came up on Thursday, June 21 before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja.

The EFCC stages walk against corruption - on NAIJ.com TV