The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has dragged a university don, Prof. John Kester Ifeanyichukwu, before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja for allegedly bribing it’s officials.
The anti-graft’s agency in a statement by its spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, accused university lecturer of bribing and inducing the body’s officials with the sum of $40,000 out of $50,000, and a promise to offer a house in Abuja to order to retrieve his devices submitted to the commission for investigation.
According to the statement: “The accused person’s devices include: MacBook S/N CIML8BUGDTY3, MacBook S/N W80204J7ATN and iPhone pro11 which are still in the custody of ICPC.
”In a single-count charge brought before Honourable Justice A.O. Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court 12, sitting in Apo, Abuja, ICPC is accusing the Professor of issuing a cheque valued at $40,000 to a staff of the Commission.
“Ifeanyichukwu had earlier been reported to the commission by the Presidency for alleged acts bordering on corruption, extortion and money laundering.
“The ICPC, in a charge no: CR/025/2022, informed the court of how the defendant induced one of its operatives to smuggle out a particular iPhone and a laptop and to replace them with a dummy that was to be provided by his personal assistant.
“The accused person’s action is contrary to Section 18 (b) and punishable under Section 18 (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
The statement, which said professor pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him, revealed that he was, therefore, admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum.
The statement further reveaythat the court ruled that “the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and one of them must have a landed property in Abuja.”
The statement said that trial judge also ordered that the defendant’s international passport and other valid travel documents must be submitted to the court before the next adjourned date otherwise his bail will be revoked.
“The case was adjourned to the 21st of June 2022 for commencement of hearing,” the statement concluded.
