N2.2bn fraud — Court to Ogbulafor: You ‘ve a case to answer

ABUJA—Former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, yesterday, failed to persuade Justice Ishaq Bello of an Abuja High Court, Maitama, to terminate further hearing on the criminal case instituted against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
The court, in a ruling it delivered said it was satisfied that the embattled erstwhile PDP leader, Ogbulafor, had explanations to give regarding the alleged role he played in the illegal diversion of about N2.2billion from the coffers of the Federal Government in 2001.
Ogbulafor, who is answering to a 17-count criminal charge, was said to have conspired with two others, Mr Emeka Ebilah, and Mr Jude Nwokoro to defraud the Federal Government via fictitious contract payments.
The ICPC alleged that he used his position as the head of the National Economic Intelligence Committee, NEIC, which was set-up to verify debts owed local contractors, and okayed as genuine several forged documents, which it said were relied upon to certify that three bogus companies executed jobs worth over N2.2billion.
The three fake companies the accused persons allegedly floated in 2001 to siphon N82.6million, 11.5million and N6.2million respectively, were listed by the anti-graft agency in its charge sheet as, Henrichiko Nig Ltd, DHL Consultants and Chekwas Industries.
Besides, ICPC told the trial court that its investigations revealed that Ogbulafor collected kick backs of N2million and N28milion from the 2ndaccused person, Mr. Ebulah, and one Mr Chris Nwoke, respectively, to facilitate the release of the funds to the fake companies.
Culled: Vanguard