Court acquits UBEC staff over scam

Nnamdi Felix / Abuja

Five years after seven persons including four staff of Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education Commission, were arraigned before a Federal High Court siting in Abuja, the alleged suspected perpetrators of the scam were on Thursday discharged and acquitted of any involvement in the fraud.

In an instigated petition by the recently retired former Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned the seven suspects on a 63 count charge which was later reduced to 41.

The court however held that the members of the UBEC Board are the ones to be before the court and not the accused persons.

The charge against the accused persons bordered on alleged complicity in an illegal diversion of monies meant for supply of learning facilities to all secondary schools across the federation, through the UBEC scheme.

The anti-graft agency alleged that they used bogus companies to defraud the government to the tune of about N787 million.

After the prosecution had closed its case, the accused persons brought a no case submission.

Ruling on the no case submission, the court presided by Justice Adamu Bello, held that the evidence given in chief against the accused persons have been discredited and truly they have no case to answer.

The court maintained that the evidence of the star witness, former Executive Scretary of UBEC, Dr. Ahmed Midibbo, was oral and not documentary and it seemed to be his own opinion on the matter.

It also held that the prosecution has not adduced cogent reasons to show forgery of bid documents by the accused persons as contained in the charge.

Justice Bello further held that the prosecution could not provide any evidence to prove the essential ingredients of the offence adding that at this stage, credibility of the witness does not arise.

“By this ruling, I am not saying that no wrong doing was established but it is on the side of the UBEC board, the board members should have been the ones to be charged and not the accused persons. The wrong persons are before this court while the culprits are enjoying their freedom” the judge noted.

He also observed that the accused persons were made scapegoats for dragging UBEC to court over a related matter.

The four directors discharged are ,Molkat Mutfwang, Michael Aule, Andrew Ekpunobi and Prof. Bridget Sokan.

Others are a contractor, Mr. Alexander Cozma, and two companies allegedly used to siphon the funds, Intermakets USA LLC and Intermarkets Nigeria.

Among those who testified in the matter alongside the former Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed, are the Director of Administration and Supply, Mrs. Bridget Ojoma Onekutu.