The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former Chairman of Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Iho Anum Achusa, and a staff of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Abuja, Mr. Donald Orya Anagenda, for alleged conspiracy, bribery and using their offices to confer corrupt advantage on themselves.
The two officers were arraigned before Honourable Justice A.O Anum of Benue State High Court No.2, Makurdi on a 4-count charge of contravening sections 12, 18(d), 19 and 26(1c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The prosecuting counsel of ICPC, Sunny Ezeana Esq and Abayomi Adepoju Esq averred that sometime between October and November 2013, the accused “conspired … to knowingly hold private interest in a contract awarded by Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to Brown Sugar Global Resources Limited for training of teachers on ICT to the tune of N97,500,000.00 (Ninety Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) only and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1)(c) punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000”.
The first accused, Mr. Donald Orya, while being in the employment of UBEC, Abuja was further charged for ‘’knowingly holding private interest in a contract awarded by SUBEB to Brown Sugar Global Resources Limited for training of teachers on ICT contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000’’. The second accused, Mr. Iho Achusa was also charged for ‘’conferring corrupt advantage upon yourself when you received the total sum of N14,900,000.00 (Fourteen Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira) only from the contract sum awarded to Brown Sugar Global Resources Limited thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000’’.
The former SUBEB boss, Mr. Iho Achusa, while being at the service of SUBEB was further accused of accepting the sum of N14,900,000.00 (Fourteen Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira) only from Donald Orya through Brown Sugar Global Resources Limited as reward for the contract he awarded to Brown Sugar Limited thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(c) and punishable under Section 18(d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The first accused, Mr. Orya pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him while the second accused, Mr. Iho Achusa, through his counsel, informed the court of his intention to challenge the competence of the charges brought against him.
The judge granted the accused persons bail and adjourned the case to October 14, 2016.