N.1bn Fraud: ICPC Arraigns Man for Impersonation

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Mr. Eno Ekapong Ofem before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court Apo, Abuja for allegedly impersonating a staff in the office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

The defendant, who contested the 2015 election into the House of Representatives and lost, was charged before Hon. Justice Valentine B. Ashi by the Commission recently on 6 counts after a petition written to ICPC.

Investigations by the Commission revealed that Mr. Ofem allegedly claimed to be a Special Adviser to the Chief of Staff to the President, a claim that he used to defraud citizens to the tune of One Hundred Million naira, on the pretext that he would get them ministerial, board and other appointments. The monies had been deposited into his bank account on various dates from June 2016.

The charges brought against the defendant indicated that his actions contravened Sections 324 and 322 of the Penal Code Act and Cap 352 Vol. 4 LFN 2004.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him, applied for bail through his lawyer, Mr. Edidion Osungurua, but was denied by the court. ICPC prosecution team, led by Mr. Elijah Akaakohol, did not oppose the application but asked for stringent conditions to be attached to the bail.

In his ruling, the trial judge, Justice Ashi, remanded the defendant in prison custody until 16th January 2018 when hearing in the case will commence.