The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogbulafor

  • Alleged corruption: Court dismisses Ogbulafor’s no case submission

    Alleged corruption: Court dismisses Ogbulafor’s no case submission

    An Abuja High Court on Tuesday dismissed the `no case submission’ filed by the former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Vincent Ogbulafor, for alleged corruption charges.

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed a 17-count charge against Ogbulafor, Emeka Ebilah and Jude Nwokoro.

    The anti-graft body alleged that they awarded fictitious contracts amounting to N107 million contrary Section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000.

    Ogbulafor, in his no case submission argued that the prosecution evidence were not sufficient to warrant the trial.

    However, Justice Ishaq Bello, in his ruling held that the prosecution established a prima facie case against the accused to warrant the trial.

    Bello said: “it is my considered view that on the totality of the evidence, the prosecution established a prima facie case to warrant the accused open his defence.

    “The no case submission fail and is accordingly dismissed,’’ the judge said.

    Bello ordered the accused persons to bring all their witnesses on the next adjourned date.

    He also threatened to revoke the bail of the second accused person, Ebilah, who was not in court during the ruling.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the judge adjourned the case to April 15, for Ogbulafor to open his defence.

     

  • Ogbulafor not on companies’ board, witness tells court

    Ogbulafor not on companies’ board, witness tells court

    A witness, Basil Momodu, yesterday told an Abuja High Court that former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Vincent Ogbulafor was not on the board of the three companies allegedly used to siphon N170 million.

    Ogbulafor and Emeka Ebila are being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 16-count charge.

    The commission alleged that Ogbulafor, when he was the Minister of Special Duties in 2001, colluded with Ebila to float three fictitious companies, Chekwas International Nigeria Ltd, Henrichko Nig Ltd and D.H.L. Consultants.

    It also claimed that he used the companies to perpetrate the alleged fraud.

    At the resumed hearing, Momodu, during cross examination by Ogbulafor’s counsel John Egwuonwu said investigations by ICPC did not show that Ogbulafor was a share holder in any of the companies.

    Momodu told the court that Ogbulafor’s companies, Basics Nigeria Ltd, Basics Travel Nigeria Ltd and All Basics Products Ltd, did not benefit from the payments and were not mentioned on the “fake list”.

    He said Ebila told him that he gave N28 million to Chris Nwoke, who was a proxy of Ogbulafor.

    The witness also told the court that he was not present when Ebila gave Nwoke the money.

    When asked by Egwuonu whether he obtained any statement from Nwoke, confirming if he collected the amount on behalf of Ogbulafor, Momodu said he did not.

    On an alleged payment of N2 million which Ogbulafor was said to have admitted collecting from Ebila in his statement on April 24, 2006, Momodu said he did know what the money was for.

    Egwuonu said: “I put it to you that the first accused told you in his statement that the money was given to him as a gift from the second accused to assist him during his campaign for the Secretary of the PDP.

    “As at October 25, 2001, when the said money was given to my client, he had resigned as minister to enable him contest.”

    Responding, Momodu said he did not know.

    ICPC counsel Adeboyega Awomolo (SAN) tendered a copy of the report prepared by the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC) with names of local and foreign contractors owed money by the Federal Government.

    Awomolo also tendered a verification report of NEIC, with names of all companies that benefited from the payments.

    Justice Ishaq Bello marked the reports as Exhibit 15 and 15(a).

    Justice Bello adjourned hearing till January 24 and 25 for cross examination of the witness by Ebila’s counsel Awa Kalu.

     

  • Contract scam: ‘Ogbulafor not on firms’ board’

    Contract scam: ‘Ogbulafor not on firms’ board’

    An Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission witness, Mr. Basil Momodu, on Monday told an Abuja High Court that Chief Vincent Ogbulafor was not on the board of the three companies allegedly used to siphon N107 million.

    Ogbulafor and Emeka Ebila are being prosecuted by the ICPC on a 16-count charge of alleged involvement in a N170 million contract fraud.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the commission alleged that Ogbulafor, while in office as the Minister of Special Duties in 2001, colluded with Ebila to float three fictitious companies, Chekwas International Nigeria Limited, Henrichko Nigeria Limited and D.H.L. Consultants.

    It also claimed that he used the companies to perpetrate the fraud.

    At the resumed hearing, Momodu, during cross examination by Ogbulafor’s counsel, John Egwuonwu, said that investigations by ICPC did not show that Ogbulafor was a share holder in any of the companies.

    Momodu told the court that Ogbulafor’s companies, Basics Nigeria Limited, Basics Travel Nigeria Limited and All Basics Products Limited, did not benefit from the payments and were not mentioned on the “fake list.”

    He said that it was Ebila (second accused) who told him that he gave the sum of N28 million to one Chief Chris Nwoke, who was a proxy of Ogbulafor.

    The witness also told the court that he was not present when Ebila gave Nwoke the money.