The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday
in an FCT High Court in Maitama, re-arraigned a deputy director
with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Emenike
Umesi, for alleged misappropriation of N54.3 million.
EFCC Counsel, Mr Joshua Saidi, informed the court that the
prosecution filed a motion dated Sept. 12, seeking to amend the
charge preferred against the defendant.
The counsel for the defendant, Mr Jeph Njikoye , SAN, fid not
object.
Justice Jude Okeke, then, granted EFCC leave to amend the
four-count charge by adding an additional six charges.
The amended charge was, therefore, read to the defendant, who
pleaded not guilty.
The six new charges added to the original four charges border on
deceit as the NEMA director was alleged to have produced false
documents in his bid to retire the various sums of money he
collected for the agency’s operation.
Following his not guilty plea, his counsel, Njikoye urged to
court to allow the defendant to continue to enjoy the bail granted
him on Feb. 14.
With no objection to this by the prosecution counsel , Okeke
ordered that the defendant continue to enjoy the earlier bail with
the same conditions.
Okeke, then, adjourned the case until Oct. 29 for trial.
Umesi was first arraigned on Feb. 14 , on four counts of
bordering on misappropriation of public fund to the tune of
N54.3million.
NAN reports that the EFCC alleged that on Dec. 30, 2014, Umesi
while serving as the Acting Director, Special Duty in NEMA
allegedly misappropriated N12.8 million meant for the Agency ‘s
operations .
EFCC said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 19
of Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendant, serving as
deputy director in charge of the South South Zone of NEMA on Feb.
29, 2012, converted the sum of N7 .5 million meant for the agency‘s
operations to his personal use.
The EFCC also accused Umesi of converting N17.9 million and
N16.1 million in March, 2012 and Oct. 14, 2013 respectively to his
personal use.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the allegations leveled
against him.
Umesi, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him and was
subsequently admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million with one
surety in like sum who must live in Abuja and own landed property.
(NAN)
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… As Institute Moves to Tackle
Leadership Issue in Nigeria
As part of strategies to encourage sound education in Nigeria
and bring the nation’s undergraduates up to speed with their
counterparts across the globe, the Nigerian Institute of Public
Relations (NIPR) has concluded plans to partner with the Microsoft,
a leading global ICT company to develop communication arts
undergraduates capacity for effective study and research.
This disclosure was made in Abuja by Chairman of the Institute’s
2019 Annual General Meeting/Conference, Mr. Franklyn Ginger-Eke,
while making a presentation on the Committee’s plans to the
leadership of the FCT Chapter.
Ginger-Eke said the partnership was one of the FCT Chapter’s
initiatives to expose the university students to practical digital
experience in partnership with multinational organizations to widen
their knowledge base for global competitiveness.
“In this digital era where education is changing the way we live
and study, Nigeria must make conscious effort towards empowering
her youths with modern day skills and functional knowledge capable
of putting them at par with their colleagues anywhere in the world,
and that is what we intend to achieve through this partnership with
Microsoft”.
He pointed out that capacity building was a collective
responsibility of all stakeholders, stressing that government alone
cannot shoulder the burden of education in the country.
Speaking on the Institute’s forthcoming AGM/Conference, the
Committee Chairman hinted that the FCT Chapter of the NIPR was
equally looking at leadership question in Nigeria with strong
assurance that the Institute intends to utilize the conference as
platform to address the leadership challenge confronting the
country.
In his remarks, the Chapter Chairman, Dr. Tayo Haastrup, said
the choice of this year’s theme “The Leadership Question: Search
for 21st Century Leaders” was apt, noting that FCT
under his watch has always set agenda for national discourse.
“I am confident that this year’s conference like previous ones
will address the critical issue of leadership and awaken our
consciousness on the need for us as a nation to begin to set plans
to raise visionary leaders who will lead our country to
prosperity”, he said.
Haastrup emphasized that the Flagship Chapter’s conference has
become a veritable platform for reputable Nigerians to proffer
practical solutions to national issues.
He stated that credible personalities, who had honoured the
Chapter’s invitation in the last three years as keynote speakers
included: Amb. Maitama Sule (late), Bishop Hassan Kukah, Prof. Pat
Utomi, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr., Femi Falana (SAN), Dr. Walter
Ofonagoro, Basorun Seinde Aregbofa (OFR), among others.
Stanley Ogadigo
Public Relations Officer
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations
FCT Chapter