By BENJAMIN OMOIKE
A university professor, John Kester Ifeanyichukwu, has landed in court for allegedly bribing and inducing officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The don was said to have bribed the officials with the sum of $40,000 out of $50,000. He was alleged to have equally promised the officials a house in Abuja, in order for them to retrieve his devices submitted to the Commission for Investigation.
According to a statement by the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Azuka Ogugua, the accused person’s devices include MacBook S/N CIML8BUGDTY3, MacBook S/N W80204J7ATN and iPhone pro11, which are still in the custody of ICPC.
“In a single-count charge brought before Honourable Justice A.O. Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court 12, sitting in Apo, Abuja, ICPC is accusing the Professor of issuing a cheque valued at $40,000 to a staff of the Commission,” the statement read.
The anti-graft agency’s spokesperson said Ifeanyichukwu had earlier been reported to the Commission by the Presidency for alleged acts bordering on corruption, extortion and money laundering, The Trumpet gathered.
Azuka noted that the ICPC, in a charge no: CR/025/2022, informed the court of how the defendant induced one of its operatives to smuggle out a particular iPhone and a laptop and to replace them with a dummy that was to be provided by his personal assistant.
She added, “The accused person’s action is contrary to Section 18 (b) and punishable under Section 18 (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Read Also: Police recovers live python used for fortification in gunmen’s shrine in Imo
The Professor pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
He was, therefore, admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the court and one of them must have a landed property in Abuja.
The trial judge also ordered that the defendant’s international passport and other valid travel documents must be submitted to the court before the next adjourned date, otherwise, his bail will be revoked.
The case was adjourned to June 21, 2022, for the commencement of hearing.
