14th February, 2013
Nnamdi Felix / Abuja
Former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, on Thursday gave an indication before an Abuja High Court where he is standing trial on an alleged N107 million fraud, that he is going to file a ” no case submission”.
This much was revealed by his lawyer, Mr. Joe Gadzama, a senior advocate of Nigeria, shortly after the prosecution closed its case against Ogbulafor and other accused persons standing trial with him.
Prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, also a senior advocate of Nigeria, had hardly concluded his case, when Gadzama informed the court that he will be filing a no case submission on behalf of his client.
The trial judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, subsequently adjourned the case to 28 February for adoption of arguments in respect of the no case submission.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, is prosecuting Ogbulafor, who was Minister of Special Duties along with Emeka Ebilah and Jude Nwokoro on a 17- count charge of conspiracy and award of fictitious contracts to the tune of N107 million.
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.
Count one of the charge dated June 17, 2010 reads:
“That you Vincent Ogbulafor (M) and Emeka Ebilah (M) in the Month of March 2001, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court, being public officers, to wit; Minister In Charge of Special Duties and Secretary/Member of the National Economic Intelligence Council (NEIC) respectively, did use your positions to confer corrupt advantage upon yourselves the sum of N82, 631, 03. 41 from the Federal Government of Nigeria in the name of a company HENCHRIKO NIG. LTD as payment for non-existence contract purportedly executed for the Federal Government and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.”