An Assistant Director in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Yildiyel Musa Takat, and an Administration Officer at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nankpat Dukbong, have been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations of fraud, employment scam, and conspiracy.

Takat and Dukbong, who were arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja, were accused of conspiracy, abuse of office, and defrauding unsuspecting job seekers to the tune of N2.9 million.

The ICPC led by its counsel told the court how the accused persons solicited and collected on separate occasions the sums of N500,000 and N2.4 million from their victims in the guise of securing employment for them in the Federal Civil Service.

The commission said the defendants’ actions are contrary to Section 26 and punishable under Section 18 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.

In two separate “Motions on Notice” and pursuant to sections 34 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended as well as sections 162 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, both counsel to the first and second defendants moved for bail application on behalf of their clients.

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They both sought the relief of the court to use its discretionary powers to grant the bail in the most liberal of conditions.

In a swift reaction, the counsel for ICPC, in a counter motion, opposed the prayers sought by counsel to first defendant, saying he had been evading trial.

The lawyer, who also described the defendant as a serial offender who had multiple court cases against him, urged the court to deny Takat the prayers sought by his lawyer.

The presiding judge, Justice O. A. Musa, after listening to both parties, admitted the first accused person to bail in the sum of N4 million and a surety in like sum, who must be a civil servant on grade level 08 and above.

The surety was also ordered to surrender his letter of first appointment and last promotion as well as identity card.

The second accused person was also granted bail in the sum of N2 million and a surety in like sum.

Justice Musa also ruled that the sureties must show evidence of residency within Abuja with a clear address and snap themselves in front of their residents and submit to court.

He equally asked them to undertake a bond to compel the defendants to attend their trial, failure of which will not only result to the revocation of the bails but the prosecution of the sureties.

The judge, therefore, adjourned the matter to October 19, 2023, for hearing.

The Star