Tension in Oko Federal Polytechnic as ICPC arraigns former IMT Rector for alleged N83 million fraud

Apprehension is on at Federal Polytechnic Oko Anambra state following the arraigning of Prof. Edwin Onyeneje, a former Rector, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, on Wednesday.
Several petitions are against the management now at federal polytechnic Oko including N1 Billion scam petition written by the immediate past Registrar and that of the Polytechnic staff school being investigated by the DSS Abuja currently. Minister for Education Panel report is being awaited but sources at the ministry said it has been submitted.
Prof Onyeneje appeared in a Federal High Court, Enugu, for alleged N83 million fraud.
Onyeneje and Dr Leonard Ugwu were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by tricks.
The others arraigned for the alleged fraud were Mr Ferdinand Onah and Mr Basil Offoh, who allegedly aided and abetted the fraud. The alleged amount was approved for the procurement of scientific equipment in preparation for re-accreditation of some programmes in the institution.
 Offoh was accused of aiding and abetting the release of N50 million to the former rector when he served as Administrative Secretary to Onyeneje.
Ugwu, who served as the Chief Store Officer of the institution allegedly released N53.2 million to the former rector for a project which was not executed. The offences contravened Sections 8 (a) and 1 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defence Counsel, Mr Benedict Chijioke, objected to the arraignment, contending that there was a judicial panel of the enquiry on the matter.
“If we allow a situation where a court is sitting and the ICPC is doing whatever they are doing it means independence of the judiciary is just a robot,” he said. Chijioke told the court that the accused person were already on administrative bail of the ICPC and would always attend their trials. In her ruling, Justice Dugbo Oghoghorie, announced that the administrative bail of the accused would continue. Oghoghorie adjourned the matter till April 14 for the hearing of the preliminary objection raised by the defence.