Fraud: ICPC docks High Court official

The Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Mrs Nkem Mba, has been arraigned for alleged involvement in some fraudulent activities.

Mba was arraigned before Justice Leteem Nyordee of the Federal High Court 12, Port Harcourt, on a three-count bordering on abuse of office and corrupt demand of gratification by a public officer.

According to a statement by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, one of the counts revealed that the Deputy Chief Registrar received a kickback of N500,000 through her bank account from the purchase of Automotive Gas Oil, popularly known as diesel, and other products.

She, however, pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charge was read to her, arguing that the money was her two per cent entitlement according to Order 16 of the Admiralty Jurisdiction (Procedure Rule) 2011.

Contrary to her plea, the court held that her offence contravened Sections 10 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and is punishable under relevant sections of the same Act.

Her counsel, S. Somiari, prayed the court to grant her bail on liberal terms, and the application was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Agada Akogwu.

The trial judge, granting the prayers, admitted her to bail in the sum of N500,000 with a surety who must have landed property in Port Harcourt.

Justice Nyordee, adjourning the case to July 26, 2022, further ruled that the accused must deposit her international passport with the Registrar.