The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has found former Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (ESUBEB) Permanent Secretary Peter Ayeni and Director of Finance and Accounts Pius Ojemolon guilty of fraud, conspiracy, and abuse of office.
According to the Commission’s spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, in a 2-count charge brought before Hon. Justice Acha J. I. of the Edo State High Court 1, sitting in Benin City, the anti-graft agency alleged that the convicts, while serving as public officers in 2009, conspired among themselves and fraudulently placed the sum of One Hundred and Sixty Million Naira (N160,000,000) ESUBEB fund into a fixed deposit account.
The court was also informed of how the convicts split a profit of one million, seven hundred and seventy-eight thousand naira (N1,778,000) from the fraudulent fixed deposit investment.
The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000’s sections 19 and 26, according to the ICPC’s legal representative, were broken by the former public officials’ actions, and he urged the court to impose the proper penalties.
The trial Judge, having found that the Prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, convicted the duo on all the charges levelled against them.
In handing down his judgment on Tuesday, 7th February 2023, Justice Acha sentenced them to five years imprisonment each with an option of fine of One Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Eight Thousand Naira (N1,778,000:00) which was the proceed of their crime.