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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of two officials from the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in connection with an alleged N1.85 billion fraud.
The accused, Emmanuel Pada and Umar Laraye, are among four REA officials facing charges brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The other officials involved are Henrietta Okojie, whose arraignment is scheduled for today, and Usman Kwakwa, who has already been arraigned.
Kwakwa is charged with defrauding the agency of N1.853 billion, while Laraye faces charges of N165 million fraud, Okojie N342 million, and Titus N261 million.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the remand of Pada and Laraye following their arraignment on Thursday. Last week, the judge issued arrest warrants for Pada, Laraye, and Okojie for failing to appear in court.
During Thursday’s proceedings, ICPC lawyer Osuobeni Akponimisingha informed the court that Laraye and Pada were present and requested the arrest warrants be vacated. The court was urged to proceed with the defendants’ arraignment. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Nwite subsequently ordered their remand in custody and adjourned the case until June 20, when the court will hear their bail applications.
The charges detail that Titus allegedly defrauded the REA of N261 million by receiving funds in multiple tranches under the false pretense of project supervision, violating the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006. The funds were reportedly disbursed from the Government Integrated Financial Management System without the necessary approvals.
Laraye is accused of moving N165 million out of government coffers via the GIFMIS payment platform in March 2023, purportedly for project supervision. Okojie is charged with misappropriating N342 million under the guise of project supervision, also in violation of the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
The case continues to develop as the ICPC pursues charges against these officials.
Source: Punch