The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned a former Coordinator of Afikpo South Local Government Development Centre of Ebonyi State, Ugwuocha Okoroafor, before Justice E.A. Ngene of the state High Court, Afikpo, on a 15-count charge of conspiracy and stealing of public funds totalling over N25,000,000.00.
Also arraigned with him were his treasurer, Christian Chukwu Owo, and the administrative officer, Mrs. Anne Eke Agwu
Okoroafor and his alleged accomplices were said to have at various times, between 2013 and 2015, raised vouchers for payments supposedly for contract awards, salaries and independence day celebrations in the names of staff of the council, who denied receiving such funds.
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Investigation into the matter, which was reported by Centre for Prevention of Corruption and Human Right Initiatives and some staff of the council, alleged that the accused persons padded their salaries and that of other staff, in connivance with a staff of the bank where the local government’s account was domiciled.
N16,000,000 and N8,000,000 were at different times traced to the accused person’s account which their income profile could not justify.
When the charges were read to them, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty, prompting counsel to the accused persons, M.O. Njoko and B.O. Igwenyi (SAN) to ask the court to release their clients on bail.
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