EFCC Files Fresh Charges Against Elumelu, Owan, Others – Thisday
October 31, 2009 by tim
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday filed a fresh 130-count charge against Hon. Godwin Elumelu, Senator Nicholas Ugbane, Hon. Jibo Mohammed and six others at an Abuja High Court, for allegedly defrauding the federal government of N5.2 billion through the Rural Electrification Agency.
Also yesterday, the EFCC filed 229 amended charges against the suspended chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Ransome Owan and six commissioners of the agency for allegedly converting billions of naira belonging to NERC to personal use.
In a press release signed by the commission’s Head of Media, Femi Babafemi, Elumelu and the eight other accused persons have also been separated in the fresh charges.
The three lawmakers Elumelu, former House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Power; Ugbane, Senate Committee Chairman on Power; and Mohammed are now facing a total of 62 count charges while the six other accused are facing a 68 count charge.
The other accused are Engr. Samuel Ibi Gekpe, Dr. Abdullahi Aliyu, Simon Kirdi Nanle, Engr. Lawrence Kayode Orekoya, Abdulsamad Garba Jahun and Barrister Kayode Oyedeji.
After more than five hours of reading out the offences and a “not guilty” plea taken by Elumelu and the other eight accused persons yesterday, the lead counsel to the first accused, Engr. Samuel Gekpe, Paul Erokoro (SAN), asked that the bail earlier granted the accused be sustained.
Thereafter, the presiding judge asked that all counsel should take a date for the determination of a motion brought by Ugbane’s lawyer that the charges against him be quashed.
