The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Thursday, said it has arraigned the deputy speaker and clerk of the Benue State House of Assembly for allegedly defrauding the state of N5 million.
The two suspects, deputy speaker Christopher Adaji and the clerk Torese Agena were arraigned before the sitting judge of the Benue State High Court, Makurdi, Justice S.O. Itodo.
“The duo are standing trial for their complicity in an alleged fraud totalling N5,040,950 (Five Million, Forty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty Naira only),” EFCC said in a statement.
“They were arraigned on two-count charges bordering on conspiracy, bribery, criminal breach of trust and abuse of office.”
For the charges, the duo pleaded “not guilty”.
The two-count charges against them read: “That you, Torese Agena, on 18th day of October 2019 being Clerk, Benue State House of Assembly, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did use your position to confer unfair advantage .to yourself as bribe, to tune of N200,000 (Two Hundred thousand naira only) from N50,000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) payable to High Profile Investment Nigeria Limited by the Benue State Government for the Benue State House of Assembly legislative tour to European countries and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same Act”.
“That you Christopher Adaji between 8th – 14 of November, 2019 within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court spent the sum of N4,840,950 (Four Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty Naira only) the funds allocated to you for European legislative tour on your legal and other services and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(5) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000”.
The prosecution counsel, G.G. Chia-Yakua, requested the court for a date to begin the trial, and sought an order of the court that the defendants be remanded by the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS).
The defense counsel, however, prayed the court to grant bail to the suspects on liberal terms, adding they would be available to stand for their trials when requested.\
Justice Itodo, thereafter, granted them bail and adjourned the case till July 6, 7, and 8, 2020 for trial to begin.