Police amend 90-count charge against Peace Corps boss

The police yesterday withdrew the initial 90-count charge against the National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dickson Akoh at an Abuja Federal High Court.

The office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) however filed a fresh 13 count charges of alleged fraud against Akoh.

A counsel from the AGF’s office, Mrs T.V.C. Kuku yesterday informed the court about the amendment and applied for adjournment to enable the office serve the defendant, Akoh with the new charges.

Defence counsel, John Ockokwu did not object to the request for adjournment.

Justice John Tsoho had on October 10 granted the application by Akoh to lift the freeze order on the corps’ Diamond Bank and Stanbic IBTC Bank accounts on the grounds that the police misrepresented facts to the court.

Akoh was alleged to have between January and December 2016 extorted funds from Peace Corps applicants, and concealed illicit funds belonging to the Corps valued at over N600m and diverting same to a UBA PLC account number: 1005250986.

He was also alleged to have organized military training for the corps without approval being registered as a non-governmental organization.

The case has been adjourned to January 15, 2018 for continuation of trial.