Ogbulafor forged documents to dupe FG N107m - ICPC witness

A former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Vincent Ogbulafor, colluded with one Emeka Ebila to forge documents in order to receive N107 million from the Federal Government, an investigator of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) told an Abuja High Court.
Basil Momodu, on Wednesday, told the court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, that Mr Ebila forged documents certifying that three fake companies executed contracts worth N107 million.
The ICPC investigator, a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Mr Ogbulafor, told the court that the fake companies were included in the list of contractors being owed money by the Federal Government.
Ogbulafor and Ebila were being prosecuted by the ICPC on a 16-count charge of alleged involvement in N170 million contract fraud.
The commission alleged that Ogbulafor, while in office as the Minister of Special Duties in 2001, colluded with Mr Ebila to float three fictitious companies — Chekwas International Nigeria Ltd, Henrichko Nig Ltd and DHL. Consultants — with which they perpetrated the fraud.
Momodu, who was led in evidence by ICPC counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, told the court that Ebila used the companies to siphon N82.6 million, N11.5 million and N6.2 million respectively in 2001.
The witness also told the court that investigations by the ICPC further revealed that the companies were not genuine contractors of the Federal Government and were not being owed money.
Momodu, who told the court that he took six statements from Ebila, said at first, the accused denied any involvement in the alleged contract scam.
Justice Ishaq Bello adjourned further hearing till November 26.