The Independent Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned the
Executive Secretary of the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Jinga Mayo, for
allegedly embezzling funds meant for the committee members of the Adamawa State
Christian Pilgrims Board.
A statement by the
spokesperson for the ICPC, Rasheedat Okoduwa, said Mayo was arraigned before
Justice Nathan Musa of the High Court 1 in Yola on three counts bordering on
stealing.
He was charged for making a
false claim on the sum of N69.2m he received to pay the committee members for
the 2016 pilgrimage to Israel.
The ICPC said while Mayo
did not pay the money to the committee members, he allegedly returned duly
signed payment vouchers and acknowledgement receipts supposedly by each member
of the committee.
The commission said the
action was contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the Corrupt Practices
and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The statement read in part,
“The accused was also charged for conferring corrupt advantage upon himself
contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other
Related Offences Act, 2000, and also for making a false statement to an officer
of the ICPC contrary to Section 25 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 25 (1)
(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
The statement said Mayo
pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him by the commission,
while the prosecuting lawyer, Anas Kolo, prayed the court to fix a date for the
trial.
Mayo’s lawyer, J. E. Owe,
informed the court that he had filed an application for bail, which was granted
by the court in the sum of N30m with one surety, who must be resident within
the court’s jurisdiction.
The court adjourned the
case till March 5 and 6, 2019, for the commencement of trial.
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