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High profile corruption: Abebe, Ogunbodede, Kumo, Aliero grace Nigeria’s ‘Hall of Shame’

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In our review of high profile corruption trials today, John Abebe, Benjamin Adefemi Ogunbodede, Saidu Kumo and Adamu Aliero graced the corridors of Nigeria’s ‘Hall of Shame’.

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Adamu Aliero – N10.2 billion fraud

Adamu Aliero, is a former Governor of Kebbi State from May, 1999, to May, 2007.

Between December 2006 and August 2008, the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), received three petitions asking the anti-graft agencies to investigate Aliero over N10.2 billion fraud.

Following an ex-parte application by an indigene of the state, Alhaji Sani Dododo, for an order of mandamus compelling EFCC and ICPC to investigate the allegations, Justice Adamu Bello summoned Aliero to appear before it.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, in July, 2018, summoned the EFCC, the ICPC and the former governor of Kebbi State, Adamu Aliero, over alleged N10.2 billion fraud in the State.

Justice Adamu Bello summoned the two anti-corruption agencies to explain why they had failed to investigate Aliero over the alleged fraud.

However, he is yet to stand trial for any corruption charges.

Aliero on Sunday, September 9, 2018 declared his intention to represent his constituency for the third time in the Senate.

Adamu Aliero won his re-election bid into the Senate for the third time under the ruling party and nothing has been heard of the case since.

John Abebe – $4 million fraud

John Abebe
John Abebe

The trial of John Abebe, a younger brother to the late first lady of Nigeria, Stella Obasanjo, was stalled on Wednesday July 10, 2019, due to the provision of incomplete documents by a defence witness.

The trial could not proceed after defence witness, Oritsematosan Nabuyaka, Head, Registry Department, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), produced an incomplete set of documents necessary for Abebe’s defence.

Two foreigners, Mr. Paul Piche, a Norwegian and Ms Charlene Cross, a Briton, on Tuesday told an Ikeja Special Offences Court on October 23, 2018, how Mr. John Abebe the brother of late Stella Obasanjo, the former first lady of Nigeria, allegedly forged documents to perpetuate $4 million fraud.

Abebe however denied the charges that were proferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

During proceedings, Piche who was led in evidence by EFCC prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, revealed to the court how the alleged forgery of a Net Profit Interest Agreement (NPIA) by Abebe was unraveled by Statoil Nigeria.

John Abebe was on July 26, 2018, docked before a Lagos Special Offences Court in Ikeja, for alleged forgery and $4million fraud.

He was docked on a four-count charge of forgery, fabricating evidence, using fabricated evidence and attempt to pervert the course of justice.

However Abebe pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Dada had on August 2, granted him bail and fixed 23, 24 and 25 of October, 2018, for his trial to commence. The case is still pending.

Benjamin Adefemi Ogunbodede – N177 million

Fraud: Ogunbodede, DG Of IART, One Other To Spend Forty Years In Prison -  The Dispatch

Prof. Benjamin Adefemi Ogunbodede is the former Director-General, Institute of Agriculture Research and Training, IART, Ibadan, Oyo State.

He was charged for diversion of fund to the tune of N177 million.

On October 3, 2017, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction and sentence to four years imprisonment of the former DG of the Agriculture Institute.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Nathaniel Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan.

Ogunbodede was prosecuted alongside Zacheaus Tejumola, the institute’s accountant, Adenose Clement and Jalekun Omotowoju on a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N177 million.

The case was closed following the conviction.

Saidu Kumo – N450 million money laundering

Sen Saidu Kumo Dies at 71 – MOONLIGHTNEWS ONLINE

Saidu Kumo is a former senator from Gombe State who was on September 26, 2018, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court in Gombe for alleged conspiracy and money laundering.

He was arraigned alongside a former Peoples Democratic Chief in Gombe, Nuhu Poloma.

The anti-graft commission told Justice Nehizena Apolabi-led court that the duo on March 27, 2015, collected the sum of N450 million from a new generation bank which was suspected to be proceeds of illegal act.

The EFCC alleged that Senator Kumo took the sum of N111 million and instructed one Sunday Agaba, a bank official, to deliver the balance of N313,500 million to a cashier of Gombe State Government House.

The former Senator was alleged to have spent N3 million for himself and gave N2 million to Mr. Poloma but failed to account for the remaining balance of N106 million.

The presiding judge, Justice Apolabi, adjourned the case to December 5, 2018, after granting the accused persons bail.

Senator Saidu Kumo will later die aged 71, thereby putting a halt on the matter.

[This Publication includes part of a compendium by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) covering corruption cases as at 22nd of November, 2019.]

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