Court Remands Two REA Staff Members In Prison Over N1.85bn Fraud Allegations

Court Remands Two REA Staff Members In Prison Over N1.85bn Fraud Allegations....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Federal High Court has ordered the remand of two Nigeria Rural Electrification Agency (REA) staff members from the Account and Finance Department at Kuje prison. This follows their alleged involvement in a N1.853 billion fraud case………. CONTINUE READING

Last week, Justice Nwite issued an arrest warrant for three REA officials—Emmanuel Pada, Umar Laraye, and Henrietta Okojie—named as defendants in four separate criminal charges by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The warrant was issued due to their failure to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment.

Today, Laraye and Pada appeared before the court for their arraignment. ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha requested the court to vacate the previously issued bench warrant, stating that the defendants were now present to enter their plea.

Justice Nwite granted the request and the defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court subsequently ordered their remand in prison pending the hearing of their bail application.

Their defense counsel, Idoko Alhassan, informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution.

Responding, Akponimisingha acknowledged receipt of the application and requested time to respond. The judge adjourned the bail hearing to June 20 and set July 10 for the commencement of trial.

The charges against the defendants involve misappropriation of public funds earmarked for rural electrification projects across Nigeria. Emmanuel Pada faces accusations of defrauding REA of N261 million under false pretenses related to project supervision. Umar Laraye is accused of fraudulently transferring N165 million out of government accounts for similar purposes, while Henrietta Okojie allegedly misappropriated N342 million under the guise of project supervision.

Earlier, Usman Kwakwa, another defendant in the case, was granted bail by Justice Nwite on June 6, following his plea of not guilty to charges of fraud.

The court granted Kwakwa bail in the sum of N50 million.

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