The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) don arraign the former Registrar of Benue State School of Health Technology in Agasha, Awuawe Clement, over alleged admission racketeering.
Clement dey face accusations say him collect and divert N4,466,500 from unsuspecting admission seekers into the institution. According to ICPC’s spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the Commission prefer three charges against Clement, including making false statement to ICPC officers during investigation, which be offence under Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(ii)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
When the charges were read to him, Clement plead not guilty. The first charge against him read: “That you, CLEMENT, between 2018 and 2019, at Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a Public Officer as the Registrar of the School of Health Technology, Agasha, use your position to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by collecting a total sum of N4,476,500. You continue to sell admission forms to unsuspecting prospective students after the closure of sales for your personal use and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
Counsel to the defendant, Mr Kelvin Iorzenda, move application for bail on behalf of his client. The prosecution counsel, Mr T. S. Lorngee, no oppose the bail application. The presiding judge, Justice Egbe Raphael, grant the defendant bail in the sum of two million naira (N2,000,000) and one surety in like sum.
The judge add, “The surety shall be a Public or Civil Servant, either at the Federal or State level. The surety shall deposit photocopies of the letter of first appointment and last promotion, identity card, passport photographs, and shall swear to an affidavit of means and address.” The matter was adjourned to December 12, 2024, for hearing.
