APC woman leader, SUBEB chair in jail over N1.5bn contract scam

The Edo State High Court has remanded the state’s Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Esosa Amadasun, former chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Stephen Alao and three former board members, in prison over a N1.5 billion contract scam.

They were yesterday on a arraigned 50-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They were alleged to have corruptly enriched themselves to the tune of N1.5 billion from the bulk sale of their own share of SUBEB contracts, an offense punishable under Section 26 (1) and other relevant sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000.

The defendants, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, were alleged to have committed the offences in 2016 while in office as chairman and members of the board.

Counsels to the defendants, Ivie Fidelis and Ohio Candy, urged the court to grant their clients bail, arguing that the defendants have abided by the conditions attached to the administrative bail granted them by the EFCC and would not jump bail.

However, EFCC counsel Ben Ubi urged the court to remand the defendants in prison custody to enable him study their bail applications, as it was only served on him yesterday.

The presiding judge, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele, thereafter adjourned to October 9 for hearing and ruling on the bail application and adjourned the substantive case to October 26 for commencement of trial.