ICPC arraigns NBC director, one other for alleged forgery, abuse of office

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on Wednesday arraigned the Director, Administration and Supplies of the National Boundary Commission, Mrs Aishatu Abdullahi, before a Federal Capital Territory, FCT high court.

Aishatu was arraigned alongside an Assistant Chief Accountant with the agency, Mrs Rahila Ghaji

They were alleged to have conspired to allow Ghaji to participate in the senior promotion exercise, as well as her confirmation for the rank of Chief Accountant (Level 14) at the Commission, while she was still in the employment of Galaxy Backbone Limited.

Ghaji was accused of forging an admission letter from the Carnegie Mellon University, Rwanda, which was purportedly addressed to her husband, Suleiman Mishara, with the intention to support her application for leave of absence at the National Boundary Commission.

The offence, the ICPC said, is contrary to the provision of Section 26(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, punishable under Section 19 of the same Act.

When the charge was read to the two defendants in the court, they both pleaded not guilty.

Following the defendants’ not-guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Fatimah Bardi, urged the court to give a date for trial to enable the anti-graft agency prove its case against them.

However, counsel for the defendants, Akinyemi Aremu and Adebayo Eniwaye, respectively, moved their clients bail applications .

They urged the court to admit the defendants to bail depending hearing and determination of the case.

The bail applications were not opposed by the prosecution.

Justice Yusuf Halilu admitted them to bail, adding that they shall provide two sureties each.

The sureties according to the judge must be residents of Abuja, a civil servant on the rank of director in any federal parastatal with evidence of first employment and last promotion.

He added that the directors to stand as surety to each of the defendants must sign letters of undertaking to produce the defendants in court throughout the period of their trial .

In addition, the judge held as well as agree to be put in prison should they fail to produce the defendants in court.

The judge then ordered the defendants to deposit their travelling documents with the court’s registrar .

He further directed that they be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.

Halilu subsequently adjourned the matter until March 17 for commencement of hearing.