You Have Case To Answer Court Tells Former Federal Perm Secretary
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday dismissed a no case submission application filed by a former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Clement Illoh Onubuogo to stop his on- going trial over an alleged N14 million fraud.
The trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo in her ruling on the application, agreed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that a prima facie case had been made against the former federal civil servant which makes its necessary for him to defend himself.
The judge, therefore, ordered him to open his defence and respond to the allegations and evidence tendered against him by the EFCC.
The anti-graft had arraigned Onubuogo before the court on October 16, 2017 on a three count charge of stealing by converting property in the sum of N14million belonging to the federal government to personal use.
The defendant allegedly supervised numerous programmes such as the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, awarded fictitious contracts to himself, using his personal company and friends.
Part of the charge reads: ” That you, Clement Illoh, a.k.a Clement & Bob Associate, on or about 28th January, 2015 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court whilst still a Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N14,176,000.00(Fourteen Million, One Hundred and Seventy- six Thousand Naira ) from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), and you hereby committed an offence contrary to Section 279(1)(b) & 285(6) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No,11,2011.”
He, however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After he was arraigned, the prosecution called four witnesses to testify against the defendant and also tendered exhibits in support of the case before closing its trial.
The court has adjourned the case till September 19, 2018 for the defendant to open his defence.
