Crime
Another Staff, Henrietta Okojie Arraigned Over ₦1.85 Billion Scam
Henrietta Okojie, a staff member of the Account and Finance Department at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), was arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday over her alleged involvement in a ₦1.85 billion fraud case
The arraignment was conducted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which leveled a four-count charge against Okojie.
ICPC’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, informed the court that Okojie had appeared as scheduled to take her plea, requesting that the bench warrant issued on June 6 be vacated. Justice Nwite granted the request.
Upon hearing the charges, Okojie pleaded not guilty. The defense counsel, Ishiaku Garba, indicated that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution on June 11.
Responding to the bail application, Akponimisingha explained that due to the public holiday on June 12, he was unable to respond promptly but requested time to review and respond adequately.
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“My lord, on June 12 was a public holiday and I couldn’t have come to the office,” Akponimisingha stated, emphasizing the need for fair hearing.
Justice Nwite adjourned the hearing of the bail application until June 20 and set July 10 for the commencement of trial. Okojie was remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre pending the bail determination.
Previously, Justice Nwite had issued a bench warrant for Okojie, Musa Karaye, and Emmanuel Pada for failing to appear in court for their arraignment. The ICPC had separately charged them, alongside Usman Ahmed Kwakwa, for allegedly misappropriating public funds earmarked for rural electrification projects.
Okojie’s charges include receiving ₦342 million fraudulently into her Access Bank account under the pretext of project supervision, a violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The total proceeds of the fraud involving all accused officials amounted to ₦1.85 billion, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria
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