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Two
officials of the Benue State Government, Mr. Stephen Amase, Principal Private
Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and Mr. Manger T
Emmanuel, a former Commissioner of Works and presently, Special Adviser,
Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology, Benue State have been arraigned by
the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Crimefacts.news reports that the two top officials of the Benue state government are standing trial at the Benue State High Court presided over by Justice S.O Itodo,
Amase
and Emmanuel were arraigned for conferring unfair advantage upon themselves and
for holding indirect private interest in a contract valued at N4,766,858,449.63
(Four billion seven hundred and sixty six million eight hundred and fifty eight
thousand four hundred and forty nine naira, sixty three kobo) only, an offence
which contravenes Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Act, 2000.
The
prosecution counsel for ICPC, Mr. G. O Iwuagwu informed the Judge that
sometime in March 2016, the first accused person, Mr. Stephen Amase while a
public servant as the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor of Benue
State, conferred unfair advantage upon himself by using his position to secure
the award of a contract to Tongyi New International Construction Limited for
the sum of N4,766,858,445.63, from the government he is serving, thereby
committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Iwuagwu
also told the Judge that the second accused person, Mr. Manger T. Emmanuel
conspired with the Principal Private Secretary by using his position to award a
contract to an unqualified company Tongyi New International Construction
Limited for the sum of N4,766,858,445.63, in a deliberate act of misleading the
State Tenders Board and State Executive Council in the award of the contract,
thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of
the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The
counts were read and the accused persons pleaded not guilty, the defence
counsel, Mr. C. A. K. Asheka, SAN made application for their bail, which was not
opposed by the prosecution counsel.
Justice
Itodo granted them bail in the sum of N10,000,000 with one surety each of not
less than grade level 16 and serving with the Benue State Government. The
sureties are to deposit evidence of ownership of landed property within Makurdi
metropolis.
The
case was adjourned to 5th, 6th and 7th of February, 2020 for further hearing. Peluxiv
