The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged Major Sam Youdubagha (retired) to a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Maitama, for allegedly defrauding one Mr. Madukaife Fabian of N64.8 million.
Major Youdubagha was arraigned on a four-count charge before Justice Oluwakoyade Adeniyi, for allegedly falsifying bank documents and awarding fictitious contracts to Mr. Fabian, contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Cap 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja 2006.
The charge sheet revealed that Major Youdubagha purportedly acted as representative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to award contract for the dredging of Sambrero River in Ahoada West, Bayelsa State to a company, Samsara Oil and Marine Services Limited, owned by Mr. Fabian.
The charge reads in part, “Major Sam Youdubagha, Knowingly made a false document to wit: Award of contract for the dredging of Sambrero River in Ahoada West, purporting same to have emanated from Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with the intention that it may be acted upon as genuine and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja 2006.
‘Major Sam Youdubagha, cheated Mr. Madukaife Fabian, when you received the sum of N64, 800, 000 through his company, Samsara Oil and Marine Services Limited via Access Bank Account with the knowledge to cause wrongful loss to the said Fabian whose interest you were bound by the contract agreement to protect and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 323 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja 2006.”
Counsel to the accused, Mr. William Ivara, pleaded with the court to grant him bail while assuring that his client would not interfere with the trial.
ICPC counsel, Ekio Akpos who did not oppose the bail application however urged the court to admit the ex-army officer to bail on stringent terms due to his antecedents of bail. He told the court that the accused while on administrative bail, jumped bail leading his surety to withdraw his services.
Justice Adeniyi, in his ruling, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N20 million and one surety, who must be a responsible citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and must be resident in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He ruled that the accused be reminded in Kuje prison pending the fulfillment of his bail application and adjourned the case to 15th November, 2016 for trial.