x

Alleged N107bn Fraud: Court Acquit Ex-Benue Assembly Member, 8 Others 

The Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State has discharged and Acquitted a  former member representing Logo State Constituency, Benue State House of Assembly (BNHA), Kester Kyenge and Eight others over allegations bordering on  money laundering .

The Nine defendants are  standing trial before the court on an 11 charge charge, Conspiring to convert the sum of N1, 714, 720, 000.00 belonging to the ALGON domiciled in Keystone Bank Plc which they withdrew in several installments with the aim of concealing the money and thereby committing an offense contrary to sections 18 of the money laundering (Prohibition) act 2011 and punishable under section 15 of the same act. 

According to the trial Judge,  Justice James Aneke, Out of the 8 prosecution witnesses called by the prosecution and who testified in court, they were unable to prove any element constituting the offenses.

He held that they were unable to show any concealment, benefit or show that the money was fraudulently used to their own benefits or able to point at any property acquired with same.

Consequently, the court discharged the nine defendants and acquitted them of the 11 counts charge on a no case submittion filed by their respective counsels.

They were alleged to be involved in the misappropriation of N107bn during the tenure of the erstwhile Governor of the State, Senator Gabriel Suswam.

Forty-seven others, along with Suswam, were earlier indicted by the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Samuel Ortom, to probe Suswam’s eight-year tenure.

Those freed  alongside Kyenge, are two former aides to Suswam, Terfa Bosua and Andrew Ayande as well as former Chairmen of Ado and Ukum Local Government Area (LGAs) of the state, David Sev-Av and Alex Ogaba respectively.

 End.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalist As...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

NDYPC Hails Otuaro’s Reforms in Presidential Amnesty Programme

• Lauds transparency, fairness in beneficiary selection and grassroots...

NCDMB Raises Bayelsa Media Awards Prize Money to N1m to Foster Journalism Excellence

By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring...

Diri’s Reforms Transform Local Government Welfare, NULGE Declares

By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa The National Union of Local Government...

Kano Governor Approves Dismissal of Two Aides Over Drug Baron Bail, Palliative Diversion

By Jabiru Hassan The Kano State Government, under Governor Abba...

City and Guilds Approves ITF as Examination Centre

By Israel Adamu, Jos The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has...

ITF Adopts Digital Communication to Boost Efficiency, Automation

By Israel Adamu, Jos The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) says...

Deputy Speaker, Kalu Bags PhD In Policy and Strategic Studies From UniAbuja

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img