EFCV Vs Etukodoh: Court Adjourned to 30th of October, for Trial.
The absent of judge had stalled continued prosecution of the Provost, Federal College of Medical Labouratory Science Technology, Jos, Dr. Nkeruewem Etukudoh and four others, over 16-count charge of alleged fraud filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The provost alongside four others, were arraigned before Justice S. P. Gang of the Plateau State High Court, on the 25th April, 2023, in a Denovo proceedings, following the retirement of Justice Christene Dabup last year.
The EFCC is alleging, “Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related matters,” in a suit No: PLD/J36c/2015, against the defendants.
Justice P.S.Gang, was conspicuously absent, for national engagement at one of the Election Tribunals, which made the prosecution of Dr. Etukudoh, halted on Thursday.
The EFCC is charging Dr. Etukudoh, the college Provost; Mr. Yusufu Samuel, its Account; Mr. Ernest Demote, its tenders board secretary; and Hon. Esio Uboh a contractor with the college.
According to the EFCC, the defendants had sometime between August 2008 and December 2011, in Jos, intented to defraud Government by conspiring to, “induce the Federal Government of Nigeria to deliver to you an aggregate sum of N64,891,172.00 vide a medium of a rted and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants are also been charge with an alleged intent to defraud, induced the federal Government of Nigeria through Central Bank of Nigeria to deliver the aggregate sum of N40,500,002.00 to Mercater Construction Limited’s Access Bank Account, under the false pretence of payment for a purported contract awarded at College, thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(b) of the advance fee fraud and other fraud related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act, amongst other charges.
But for the absent of justice P.S Gang,
the case is now adjourned to 30th October 2023 for hearing and for the prosecution counsel to prove their case.
