The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said four staff members of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), will be arraigned in an alleged N1,066,000,000 electricity project supervision fraud.
This is contained in ICPC’s charge sheets before the Federal High Court Abuja and filed on May 9, 2024.
The defendants, Umar Karaye, Usman Kwakwa, Emmanuel Titus and Hanrrietta Okojie.
The four suspects are sued for allegedly receiving various sums through their respective bank accounts under the false pretence of project supervision on behalf of REA.
They were accused of illegally possessing N165,000,000, N298,000,000, N261,000,000, and N342,000,000.00, respectively, totalling N1,066,000,000.
According to the ICPC the action of the defendants is contributing to the economic adversity of REA and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 68 of the Public Enterprise Regulatory Commission Act, CAP. P39, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
The case came after the ICPC announced in 2023 that its operatives had began an investigation into alleged fraud, criminal conspiracy, and diversion of public funds in the REA.
Also, the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-corruption had also invited the Managing Director of REA, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, to appear before it over alleged fraud allegations in the agency.
The defendants will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite on 6th June 2024.
REA is the implementing agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria responsible for the electrification of rural and unserved communities.
