The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), on Wednesday, arraigned a former acting Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Alex Akpa, and others over alleged N400 million fraud.
Prof. Akpa, an ex-member of the Governing Board of NABDA, Famous Daunemigha, and the ex-Director, Finance and Accounts of the agency, Wesley Ebi Siasia, were arraigned on four-count amended charge before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The three of them, who are 1st to 3rd defendants respectively, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the anti-corruption commission, O.G. Iwuagwu, informed the court that seven witnesses have been lined up to testify against the defendants.
Justice Ekwo consequently admitted them to bail on terms of the administrative bail earlier granted them by the commission.
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The presiding judge directed that all the particulars of the defendants be forwarded to the court registrar within seven days of the order.
Justice Ekwo, who warned the defendants against breaching the bail conditions, said the trial would be on a day-to-day basis.
He, therefore, adjourned the matter until March 6, March 7, March 8, March 9, and March 10 for trial.
The ICPC, in the amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/302/22 dated and filed November 1, had alleged that the defendants, sometime in August, 2020, within the court jurisdiction while being public officers, indirectly took possession of the sum of N400 million meant for the establishment of four Bioresources Development Centers in four states of the federation.
The commission accused Akpa, in count two, of indirectly taking possession of the sum of N260 million being part of the sum of N400 million.
While the ICPC accused Daunemigha of embezzling N50 million from the N400 million, Siasia was alleged to have taken possession of N40 million from the amount.
The commission said the act contravened Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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