The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned the former Registrar of Benue State School of Health Technology in Agasa, Awuawe Terwase Clement, over an alleged N4.4 million admission racketeering in court.

Clement was arraigned on Tuesday by the ICPC before the Federal High Court in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, for allegedly collecting and diverting the sum of 4,466,500 paid by unsuspecting admission seekers into the institution.

He was said to have collected the alleged sum after the institution closed the sale of admission forms for the year.

The former Registrar, in a three-count charge preferred against him by the ICPC, was also accused of making a false statement to the officers of the commission in the course of investigation which, according to the commission, is an offence under Section 25(1) (a) and punishable under Section 25 (ii) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related offences Act 2000.

Count One against the defendant reads: “That you, Awuawe Terwase Clement between 2018 and 2019 at Guma Local Government Area of Benue State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while being a Public Officer as the Registrar of School of Health Technology Agasha used your position to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by collecting a total sum of N4,476,500 when you continued to sell admission forms to unsuspecting prospective students after the closure of sales for your personal use and therefore committed any offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”

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Clement however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

Following his ‘not guilty’ plea, the defence counsel, Kelvin Iorzenda, moved an application for bail on behalf of his client.

The prosecution counsel, T. S Lorngee, did not oppose the bail application moved by the counsel to the defendant.

The presiding judge, Justice Egbe Raphael, thereafter granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2 million and one surety in like sum.

“The surety shall be a Public or Civil Servant either at the Federal or State. The Surety shall deposit photocopies of letter of first Appointment and last promotion, Identity Card, Passports Photographs and shall swear to affidavit of means and address,” Justice Raphael added.

The judge, therefore, adjourned the matter to December 12, 2024, for hearing.

The Star