ICPC Arraigns REA Director Over N1.8bn Diversion, Manipulation Of GIFMIS

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday arraigned Sambo Abdullahi, the suspended Director of Finance and Account (DFA) of Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

He was arraigned before Justice Olajuwon of the Federal High Court Abuja over the alleged unauthorised diversion of funds valued at N1.8 billion to personal accounts.

In the charge brought against him, it was alleged that sometime in March 2023 while being a public officer in the employment of Rural Electrification Agency at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abdullahi, with intent to defraud the said Rural Electrification Agency authorised and finalized the sum of N1,835,000.000, 00 in different tranches under the false pretence of project supervision exercise and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 6(4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Act, 2015).

He was charged before the court for using his role to authorise and finalise payments without proper approvals, bypassing the legal processes through the Government Integrated Financial Information System platform (GIFMIS) of the REA to other staff who had been arraigned.

The defendant is alleged to have made these unauthorised payments into the accounts of other staff in the accounts department, which were arraigned a week ago before Justice Emeka Nwite.

In the charge sheet, co-signed by Henry O Empire, Director Legal Services and Dr Osuoben Ekoi Akponimisinghi, Assistant Legal Officer of the ICPC, they scrutinized an unusual inflow of monies from the agency to Okojie H. Onomen N342m, Asuni Aminat N336m, Usman Kwa Kwa N298m, Shehu Abdullahi N433m, Emmanuel Titus N261m and Musa Karaye N165m. These transfers were made in tranches to avoid drawing attention and were made in a manner that does not fall within the currency transaction report.

Abdullahi has been granted bail for N200m, two sureties in like sum, landed properties with original C/O within the jurisdiction, evidence of tax clearance for three years and his passport photographs.

Similarly, Umar Musa Karaye, Emmanuel Pada Titus, and Henrietta Okojie were granted bails in the sums of N50m each, respectively, with two sureties, one in like sum and a respected citizen who swears to the affidavit of means, landed properties with original C/O, evidence of tax clearance for the past three years, and passport photographs.

Hearing in the case has been fixed for July 10 and 17, 2024.