ICPC arraigns PRODA DG for alleged N23.5m fraud




 
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned the director-general of the Project Development Institute (PRODA) Enugu, Dr. Charles Agulanna, before Hon. Justice Buba Ibrahim of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, for allegedly committing procurement fraud.

Dr Agulanna, who is facing a one-count charge, was said to have sometime in August, 2017 or thereabouts, while being the director-general of PRODA, committed procurement fraud by awarding a contract for the revaluation of land belonging to PRODA in the sum of N23,500,037.50 to T.O. Thomas & Co., even when the company was not a registered surveyor/valuer and did not submit any memorandum of understanding with any registered surveyor/valuer in its tender bid, an offence contrary to section 58(4)(b) and punishable under section 58(5) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

When the charge was read to him, Dr. Agulanna pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The defense counsel, G. D. Joshua, who had earlier submitted a written bail application, prayed the court to grant his client bail, stating that his client was a man of credible personality that would not jump bail.

The ICPC counsel, O. J. Ochigbo did not oppose the bail, but said the court should grant him bail with stringent conditions.

The presiding judge, Justice Buba Ibrahim, therefore, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N5 million and two reliable sureties in the like sum.

The judge also asked the defendant and his sureties to submit two passport photographs each to the court, and thereafter adjourned the matter till the 21st of October 2021 for hearing

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