ICPC arraigns ex-Ebonyi commissioner over alleged N79m fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former Commissioner for Health in Ebonyi State, Henry Aloh, for alleged contract scam to the tune of N79 million.

  A statement by the Commission Sunday indicated that Aloh was arraigned before the High Court of Ebonyi presided over by the state Chief Judge, Justice A.N. Nwankwo. Docked alongside Aloh was a manager of one of the branches of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank) in the state, Mr. Sam Agbo.

  The ICPC alleged that both were involved in the scam, stating that its investigations had revealed that the offences were committed in 2005 when the Ebonyi government awarded a contract for the renovation and construction of Amasari General Hospital in the state estimated at N79 million.


  “The former Commissioner, Aloh, was alleged to have conspired with the bank manager to divert the sum to an account allegedly opened in the name of one John Okoli, who was falsely presented as a representative of the company, awarded the contract to renovate the health institution”, the statement read.

  This, according to ICPC, is contrary to Section 26 (1) and punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000.

  Part of the allegations against the commissioner was that he procured John Okoli, who was his patient and Patrick Chukwu, his personal assistant, to be signatories to the account opened in the name of the company, which is contrary to and punishable under Sections 26 and 19 of the ICPC Act 2000 and Section 473 (2) of the Criminal Code Act Cap 28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

  Mr. Raheem Adeshina, the prosecution counsel, did not oppose the bail application moved by M. Erhenede and Emeka Uwake, counsel to Dr. Aloh and Sam Agbo.

  The two accused persons were granted bail in the sum of N50 million and one surety in like sum who must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction. The case has been adjourned to October 22 and 23 for hearing.

guardiannews.