Ex-IGP Ehindero, CP docked over N16.4m fraud

A former Inspector General of Sunday Ehindero, and a Commissioner of Police, Obaniyi, have been re-arraigned N16.4million fraud.

They were re-arraigned yesterday before an FCT High Court in Apo by the Independent Corruption Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 10-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and making false statement.

The court was told that the defendants committed the offences from May 2006 to November 2006 when they allegedly conspired and used their positions to place N500 million in two fixed deposit accounts which yielded an interest of N16.4million.

The money, according to the prosecution, was part of N557.9 million donated by the Bayelsa State Government to the Nigeria Police for purchase of arms and ammunitions.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Consequently, their lawyers, Kenneth Onorun and Samuel Obairko, urged the court to uphold the bail granted to them when they were first arraigned. The application was granted.

However, when the prosecution applied for the court to proceed with evidence of a prosecution witness who, the prosecutor said, was ready to testify, the defence counsels objected, submitting that the statements of the defendants were not served along with the amended charge.

The trial judge, Justice Sylvanus Orji while adjourning the matter to January 8 directed the prosecutor to serve the defence counsel with the statements. Police, former John over