N21m contract fraud: Edo APC woman leader, others remanded in prison

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

An Edo State High Court in Benin City on Thursday remanded a Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the State, Mrs. Aisosa Amadasun, over alleged N21 million contract fraud.

Also remanded alongside Mrs. Amadasun, were Adama Osabuohien, Prince Stephen Alao and two others, for allegedly using their offices while serving as board members of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), to award contracts to their cronies after collecting money from them.

The offence is punishable under section 98b (1) (a) (II) of the Criminal Code, CAP. 48, the Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria, as applicable to Edo State.

The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the 5-count charge leveled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Counsel to EFCC, Dr. Ben Udi, prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody to enable him study their bail applications.

He said: “Five applications were served on me today and I needed time to study them. Therefore, I pray the court to remand them in prison custody to enable me study the documents.”

Counsel to the first accused person, Ivie Fidelis, pleaded with the court to grant the accused persons bail, considering their age and health status.

Fidelis said; “Most of them are above 50 years and most of them have health challenges especially the first accused person who was abducted this year. I plead that the court should consider their age and health status because if anyone falls down and die, who will continue the case?”

On his part, Counsel to the third and fourth accused persons, Barr. Ohio Candy, argued that their offense is bailable and not a capital offense, adding that a speedy bail would grant the accused persons the opportunity to prepare their case.

Candy further argued that the era of technical justice was over and that the court should use its discretion to grant the accused persons bail.

The presiding Judge, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele, ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody and adjoined the case to 26 and 27 October, 2017, for hearing.