The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Solomon Okpa Ita, over diversion of N45 million.
Ita, a director in the department of community and rural development of NDDC, was arraigned on Tuesday, September 27, before Zainab Abubakar, a justice of the federal high court in Abuja.
He was arraigned on a four-count charge.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/110/2022, Ita was alleged to have diverted part of the funds paid for a contract awarded to a group identified as Radiant Women Association (RWA).
Osuobeni Akponimsingha, the ICPC counsel, said that, Ita, in September 2018, indirectly took possession of the sum of N22,400,000 through his First City Monument Bank (FCMB) with account number 0542393012, received from the Zenith Bank account of one Solomon Eyarebe and Ebikebina.
The fund was part of the N45,000,000 payment made to Radiant Women Association for a contract awarded by NDDC through Ita’s department.
His offence is contrary to section 15(2)(d) and punishable under section 15(3) of the money laundering (prohibition) act, 2011 (as amended).
The NDDC director, however, pleaded not guilty.
After his plea, the judge granted him bail in the sum of N50 million, with one surety who must own a property within Abuja, while the certificate of occupancy of the property, which should be verified by the registrar, would be deposited at the court registry, according to The Witness.
The judge also ordered that Ita be remanded in the custody of the ICPC pending when he meets the bail condition.
The matter was, thereafter, adjourned by the judge till October 25, 2022.
