Former Nigerian Police IG Ehindero Docked For Alleged Fraud

A former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero,
was on Thursday re-arraigned alongside a former police
commissioner, John Obaniyi, on a six-count charge for alleged
fraud.

The defendants were arraigned at an Apo District High Court of
the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

They were accused of misusing N578 million (N557,995,065)
donated by the Bayelsa State Government for the purchase of
arms.

According to the charge, the fund was diverted into separate
accounts owned by the defendants, where it generated an interest of
N16,412,315.

The generated interest was allegedly used for the defendant’s
personal objectives.

The charge also alleged that the defendants lied to officials of
the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses
Commission, ICPC, when they told two of the commission’s staff upon
inquiry about the diverted funds, that the generated interest was
used for official purposes.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Messrs Ehindero and Obaniyi were first arraigned in 2012 by the
ICPC for the alleged offenses.

They, however, filed a preliminary objection, challenging the
competence of the charge against them and asked the trial court to
suspend their trial pending the determination of the appeal at the
higher court.

Following an order of the Supreme Court in December, however,
the defendants were told to return to the trial court and face the
charge against them.

After taking their pleas, the court admitted the defendants on
bail, based on the previous conditions and adjourned the matter to
June 19.

A former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero,
was on Thursday re-arraigned alongside a former police
commissioner, John Obaniyi, on a six-count charge for alleged
fraud.

The defendants were arraigned at an Apo District High Court of
the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

They were accused of misusing N578 million (N557,995,065)
donated by the Bayelsa State Government for the purchase of
arms.

According to the charge, the fund was diverted into separate
accounts owned by the defendants, where it generated an interest of
N16,412,315.

The generated interest was allegedly used for the defendant’s
personal objectives.

The charge also alleged that the defendants lied to officials of
the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses
Commission, ICPC, when they told two of the commission’s staff upon
inquiry about the diverted funds, that the generated interest was
used for official purposes.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Messrs Ehindero and Obaniyi were first arraigned in 2012 by the
ICPC for the alleged offenses.

They, however, filed a preliminary objection, challenging the
competence of the charge against them and asked the trial court to
suspend their trial pending the determination of the appeal at the
higher court.

Following an order of the Supreme Court in December, however,
the defendants were told to return to the trial court and face the
charge against them.

After taking their pleas, the court admitted the defendants on
bail, based on the previous conditions and adjourned the matter to
June 19.