ICPC: PSC Finance Director Docked Over N11.75m Mismanagement

Lordson OkpetuFebruary 23, 2017

By Oladapo Okeowo

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Emmanuel Ibe, the Director of Finance in the Police Service Commission (PSC).

He is charged with the mismanagement of N11.75m.

The ICPC brought a 9-count charge against the finance director before Justice C.N. Oji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 21, Apo.

According to the Counsel to ICPC, Golden Iwuagwu, Ibe paid the disputed amount to selected PSC staff members in 2015. The payments were marked as airfare and taxi allowances for journies within seven states even though there are no connecting flights between Abuja and the states.

The payments were marked as airfare and taxi allowances for journies within seven states even though there are no connecting flights between Abuja and the states.

Iwuagwu told the court that the defendant’s release of funds for the aforementioned journies was a contravention of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same section.

The charge sheet reads in part:

“That you Emmanuel Ibe, in the month of March 2015, or thereabouts, at Abuja, being the Director of Finance of the Police Service Commission did use your office to confer corrupt advantage upon selected staff of the Police Service Commission by paying them the sum of N11, 750, 000 as return airfare and airport taxi fare for flights between Abuja and the FCT, Kogi, Bauchi, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Plateau, Benue and Niger states when there are no commercial flights between Abuja and these states thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”

Ibe pleaded not guilty to the charge and requested bail based on self-recognition.

Judge Oji acquiesced and set the bail at N10million with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a Director in the Federal Civil Service.

Lordson OkpetuFebruary 23, 2017