Alleged N1.5m bribe: Court quashes charges against Iheanacho

Managing Director of the Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Mr Anthony Iheanacho, has been discharged by an Apapa Magistrate Court, Lagos on a three count charge of offering N1.5million bribe to members of the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy verification. Magistrate Martins Onwumi, who quashed the charge in his ruling said, “It is obvious that the prosecution is speculating as none of its evidence supports the charge. The prosecution has failed to provide a prima facie case.
In the circumstance to do justice to this matter is to discharge and acquit the defendants after their no case submission is upheld.
Based on the above, the no case to answer succeeds and the defendants are hereby discharged and acquitted on all counts.”
Other accused persons, who were discharged include Assistant General Manager (Supply) of  Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Humphery Okoh; Financial Controller, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Akinwusi Julius,  two members of the Presidential committee on fuel subsidy verification, Alalade Abioye and Oni Oluwasola.
They were arraigned before the court on the conspiracy to offer gratification of N1.5million to public officers.
The prosecutor had alleged that the money was offered while the committee was rounding its exercise of verification and reconciliation of payment of fuel subsidy.
Investigation Officer, Olalokun Kehinde, who testified for the prosecution told the court that his investigation did not show that the gift influenced the team nor  induced them, adding that he recommended that  the file  be passed on to the legal department but, “I  did not recommend the prosecution of the defendants.”
Magistrate Martins Onwumi, who quashed the charge in his ruling said, “It is obvious that the prosecution is speculating as none of its evidence supports the charge. The prosecution has failed to provide a prima facie case.
In the circumstance to do justice to this matter is to discharge and acquit the defendants after their no case submission is upheld.
Based on the above, the no case to answer succeeds and the defendants are hereby discharged and acquitted on all counts.”
Other accused persons, who were discharged include Assistant General Manager (Supply) of  Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Humphery Okoh; Financial Controller, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Akinwusi Julius,  two members of the Presidential committee on fuel subsidy verification, Alalade Abioye and Oni Oluwasola.
They were arraigned before the court on the conspiracy to offer gratification of N1.5million to public officers.
The prosecutor had alleged that the money was offered while the committee was rounding its exercise of verification and reconciliation of payment of fuel subsidy.
Investigation Officer, Olalokun Kehinde, who testified for the prosecution told the court that his investigation did not show that the gift influenced the team nor  induced them, adding that he recommended that  the file  be passed on to the legal department but, “I  did not recommend the prosecution of the defendants.”