Ex-Edo SSG and 3 SUBEB Officials for trial over N113m Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed an-eight count charge of fraudulent practices against a former Secretary to the Edo State Government under Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Dr. Simon Imuekemhe, and three other officials of the state’s Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEC, over a missing N113 million funds of the.........

Board.

Imuekemhe recently retired from the public service amid pomp and ceremony and was applauded by the governor to have discharged his duties creditably, while in the public service.

The EFCC filed the case on the 27th January 2014 on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against the four accused persons with charge number B/EFCC/1/14. According to the first count, the accused persons spent some money allocated for a particular project on another project contrary to Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

The particulars of offence stated, “Joseph Sule Emoabino, David Eson Igbinoba, Aghator Gaskin Efen and Dr. Simon Imuekemhe being Chairman, Secretary, Director of Finance and Accounts of State Universal Basic Education Board, Edo State and Secretary to Government of Edo State respectively, on or about the 5th of June, 2012 in Benin within the jurisdiction of Edo State High Court, spend the sum of N16, 853,242.58k (Sixteen Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-three Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty-two Naira, Fifty-eight Kobo) for construction of perimeter wall fence in Ivbiore Primary School, Ugbor, a project not covered by the intervention funds allocated by the State Universal Basic Commission/ State Government and thereby committed an offence.”

According to the second count, the accused persons spent money allocated for a particular project on another project contrary to the law stated above.

The particulars of offence further stated: “Joseph Sule Emoabino, David Eson Igbinoba, Aghator Gaskin Efen and Dr. Simon Imuekemhe being Chairman, Secretary, Director of Finance and Accounts of State Universal Basic Education Board, Edo State and Secretary to Government of Edo State respectively, on or about the 5th of June, 2012 in Benin within the jurisdiction of Edo State High Court, spend the sum of N13, 216,457.26k (Thirteen Million, Two Hundred and Sixteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty-seven Naira, Twenty-six Kobo) for renovation of six classrooms block in Ikirodah Primary School, Ugiekha, a project not covered by the intervention funds allocated by the State Universal Basic Commission/State Government and thereby committed an offence.”

Under the third count charge, the four accused persons were alleged to have inappropriately spent in the same manner, date and place, N18, 220,000.58k “for renovation of eight classrooms/stores block in Ekpenede Primary School, Benin City, a project not covered by the intervention funds allocated by the State Universal Basic Commission/State Government and thereby committed an offence.”

In the fourth count, the four accused persons were alleged to have inappropriately spent in the same manner, date and place, N17, 883,215.15k “for renovation of six classrooms/ stores block in Oweigie Primary School, Orio, a project not covered by the intervention funds allocated by the State Universal Basic Commission/ State Government and thereby committed an offence” under the same law.

In the fifth count, they were accused of spending in the same manner, date and place, N12, 405,154.25k “for renovation of six classrooms/stores block in Ikabigbo Primary School, Ikabigbo, a project not covered by the intervention funds allocated by the State Universal Basic Commission/ State Government and thereby committed an offence” under the same law.

In the sixth count, all the accused persons were accused of spending in the same manner and place but on the 4th of June, 2012 the sum of N22, 190,434.77k “for renovation of six classrooms/office block in Ogan/Oviawe Primary Schools, a project not covered by the intervention funds allocated by the State Universal Basic Commission/State Government and thereby committed an offence” under the same law.

All the accused persons were alleged in the seventh count to have spent in the same manner, place and date above, the sum of N13, 146,757.42 “for construction of perimeter wall fence, water closet suits and drilling of borehole in Ebenezer Primary School, Benin City, a project not covered by the intervention funds allocated by the State Universal Basic Commission/ State Government and thereby committed an offence” under the same law.

In the last count, EFCC accused the government officials of conspiring amongst themselves in the same manner, place and date above and “did agreed amongst yourselves to spend public funds allocated for a particular project on another project and thereby committed an offence,” an offence under the provisions of Section 26 (1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Act of 2000.

Last week Thursday, however, the EFCC could not arraign before an Edo State High Court in Benin City, Imuekemhe and his fellow accused persons.

It was learnt that Justice Esther Edigin, who was dramatically re-assigned the case same day from the court of Justice Ikponmwen where it was initially listed, could not hear the case because she had not received the case file. She assured that a date would be fixed for the formal arraignment of all the accused persons once she received the case file.

It would be recalled that the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, raised the alarm sometime in 2012 over an alleged missing N320m in Edo SUBEB after National Mirror had exclusively reported the alleged scam. While the state governor immediately relieved the Commissioner of Education then, Mr. Ekpenisi Omorotionmwan of his duties before explaining later that no money was missing, the PDP called for a probe of the missing money and petitioned the EFCC, thereafter.