The anti-graft agency also claimed that the former Law Reform Commission Secretary while occupying the position, bestowed upon herself corrupt advantage by using her office to derive various unlawful pecuniary benefits
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mrs. Folake Abiodun Oguneye, former Secretary to the Nigeria Law Reform Commission before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court for a fraud case of N26,637,116.00.
The ICPC arraigned Oguneye on a five-count charge before Hon. Justice M.B. Idris on Tuesday.
The ICPC alleged that Oguneye defrauded the Federal Government of Nigeria of the said sum and while serving as the Secretary to the Nigeria Law Reform Commission.
The anti-graft agency also claimed that the former Law Reform Commission Secretary while occupying the position, bestowed upon herself corrupt advantage by using her office to derive various unlawful pecuniary benefits for herself to the tune of the above sum.
ICPC, in Charge No: CR/334/19 told the court how the accused person received the sum of N4, 100,000.00 from Kings and Khad Tours and Travels Nigeria Limited which was part of the sum of N10,171,100.00 paid to a company, Snugees Investment Limited, by the Nigeria Law Reform Commission for publicity over the reform and unification of Sale of Goods law in Nigeria.
The defendant was also accused of receiving the sum of N96,293.05 monthly amounting to N1,155,516.6 for one year as furniture allowance from the Law Reform Commission whereas she had actually collected the bulk sum of N5,777,600.00 for the five-year period of her tenure.
Mrs. Oguneye was further charged for accepting the sums of N15,004,000.00 from one Huthman Ademola Oluwatoyin, the proprietor of Mutoy Adekunle Enterprises, being part of the sum of N15,516,225.00 for the unification of Sale of Goods law in Nigeria and N600,000.00 as gratification from a contract she had awarded respectively.
The ICPC stated that Oguneye’s action contravened section s 10 (a) (ii) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Oguneye pleaded not guilty to all the charges leveled against her and her counsel, A.O. Ayodele, via a written application, sought the reliefs of the court to grant her bail which was not opposed by the prosecution.
The trial judge, therefore, admitted the accused person to bail in the sum of N5,000,000.00 and a surety in like sum who must not be lesser than a Grade Level 14 public officer within the jurisdiction of the court and must possess evidence of a landed property within the FCT.
The matter has been adjourned until September 19, 2019, for the prosecution to open its case.
If found guilty, she risks conviction liable to imprisonment for five years without any option of fine.