Crime

Court Sentenced Former Anambra State Treasurer To 11 Year-Jail Term over N66.5m Fraud

An Anambra State High Court, in Awka, presided over by Justice Arinze Akabua, has sentenced a former Treasurer with the Anambra State Ministry of Finance, Innocent Ezeonwuka, to 11 years imprisonment for defrauding pensioners of N66.5 million.

Onwuka, who was a Sub-Treasurer with the Ministry, was accused by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of diverting monies meant for the payment of gratuities to retired civil servants under Aguata Sub-Treasury, Anambra State.

The Commission, in a three-count charge, averred that the convict abused his office by conferring corrupt advantage on himself when he embezzled N66,520,564.62 meant for paying gratuities of the retired staff of the Aguata Sub-Treasury.

Counsel to ICPC, Enosa Omoghibo, told the court that the convict committed the offence between June 2009 and June 2011 when he diverted the entire N66.5 million released by the state government for payment of gratuity to retirees.

The court heard that the former Treasurer was posted to Aguata Treasury office within the period and in defiance to the lawful directives issued to him by the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance to pay gratuities of retired civil servants under the Aguata Sub Treasury, diverted the monies released to other purposes thereby leaving the affected beneficiaries in want and penury.

Justice Akabua, at the conclusion of the trial, found Ezeonwuka guilty on all three counts and therefore sentenced him to five years imprisonment on counts one and two, and one year imprisonment on count three. The sentences will run concurrently, the court ruled.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
towncrierng

Recent Posts

Morka fires back: “Peter Obi’s threat claims are malicious lies”

  Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has refuted…

5 hours ago

GOV. FUBARA AND THE WOMAN BEHIND THE VEIL (1)

  By Caleb fubara It was on October 30, 2023 that Rivers people trooped out…

1 day ago

Politicians supporting Fubara for personal political ambitions – Magnus Abe

  Former Senator representing Rivers South-East, Magnus Abe, has accused politicians supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara…

4 days ago

Oshiomhole lauds PDP for giving Wike to Tinubu’s govt

  Senator Adams Oshiomhole has praised the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his…

4 days ago

Rivers Former CP Redeploy, Promoted

  ...List Achievements Former Rivers State, Commissioner of Police, now Assistant Inspector General, AIG Mustapha…

5 days ago

President Tinubu Told Me He Has Asked BAO To Prepare For Second Term – Ayo Fayose

  Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given…

5 days ago