Court jails 5 REA Directors – TheNigerialawyer

Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,
High Court, sitting in Gudu, Abuja, convicted and sentenced former
directors of the Rural Electricity Agency, REA, to various jail
terms for their culpability in the N5.2billion scam.

The convicts include Engr. Samuel Ibi Gekpe, former Managing
Director, REA; Simon Kirdi Nanle, an accountant in REA; Engr.
Kayode Orekoya, Director of Projects; Abdusamad Garba Hahun,
Assistant Director and Kayode Oyedeji, Head of Legal
Department.

However, the second defendant, Dr. Abdullahi Aliyu, a former
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power was discharged and
acquitted.

They were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC for criminal breach of trust in fraudulently
awarding contract for Grid Extension and Solar Electricity from the
amended 2008 Budget of REA.

They were alleged to have fraudulently facilitated the
withdrawal of the sum of N119.7million from the account of the
agency, domiciled in Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution led by Kemi
Pinheiro, SAN, called seven witnesses before closing its case.
Rather than open its defence, the defendants through Paul Erokoro,
SAN, made a no case submission which was overruled by the court and
thereafter were called upon to open their defences.

Dr. Abdullahi Aliyu’s “no-case” submission was, however, upheld
on appeal and he was consequently discharged and acquitted.

The first and third defendants rested their cases on that of the
prosecution. The fourth-sixth defendants testified in person. Final
addresses were filed, exchanged and adopted. Upon adoption of the
respective final addresses by the prosecution and the defence, the
court adjourned for judgment.

In a significant judgement, the court dismissed the application
of Gekpe, the first defendant, which challenged the jurisdiction of
the court to entertain the charge. On the substantive charge, the
court found that the prosecution had established by evidence all
ingredients of the offences against the defendants.

The defendants were accordingly convicted and sentenced as
follows: First defendant sentenced three years imprisonment with an
option of N5million fine; the third- sixth defendants were
sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of N500,000
fine each.

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