Emmanuel Thomas l Thursday, June 21, 2018
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos today ordered retired Permanent Secretary, Dr. Clement Illoh Onubuogo to enter his defence in allegation of theft of the sum of N664 million and $137, 680. Dr. Clement Illoh Onugbuogo allegedly failed to disclose the sum of N97, 300, 613.44 Million, (Ninety Seven Million, Three Hundred Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirteen Naira, Forty-four Kobo) found in his account.
He was also alleged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) to have warehoused the sum of $139, 575. 50 USD, (One Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-Five United States Dollars, Fifty Cent) and £10, 121.52, (Ten Thousand One Hundred and Twenty-one Pounds) respectively in his account.
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The offences are punishable under Sections 23(3)(c) of the Financial Crimes Commission (Establish) Act.
Counsel to Illoh had filed a for a no case submission at the last hearing. In her ruling, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said the former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Clement Illoh Onubuogo has a case to answer and that the prosecution has sufficiently proved a premia facia case against the defendant and ordered Iloh to enter his defence in the alleged fraud and theft.
The suspect, was alleged to have misappropriated the fund while supervising numerous programmes such as the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, allegedly awarded fictitious contracts to himself, using his personal company and friends. The matter has been adjourned till September 19 for the permanent secretary to open his defence.
