The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Awuawe Clement, the former Registrar of the Benue State School of Health Technology in Agasha, over charges related to admission racketeering. Clement faces allegations of collecting and diverting N4,466,500 from individuals seeking admission into the institution.
The charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Benue State. According to a statement released on Thursday by the ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, Clement faces three charges, including making false statements to ICPC officers during their investigation. This is an offense under Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, punishable under Section 25(ii)(b) of the same Act.
The case against Clement centers on his actions between 2018 and 2019. According to the charge sheet, Clement allegedly took advantage of his position as Registrar to collect funds from prospective students, even after the institution had closed the sale of admission forms for the year. The ICPC claims he used the money for his personal benefit, a violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
One of the charges reads: “That you, CLEMENT, between 2018 and 2019, at Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a Public Officer as the Registrar of the School of Health Technology, Agasha, used your position to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by collecting a total sum of N4,476,500. You continued to sell admission forms to unsuspecting prospective students after the closure of sales for your personal use and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
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However, Clement pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read to him in court.
During the court session, Clement’s legal representative, Mr. Kelvin Iorzenda, submitted a bail application for his client. The prosecution, represented by Mr. T. S. Lorngee, did not oppose the application for bail.
Justice Egbe Raphael, who presided over the case, granted bail to Clement, setting the amount at two million naira (N2,000,000). As part of the bail conditions, Clement must provide one surety who is either a Public or Civil Servant at the federal or state level.
“The surety shall be a Public or Civil Servant, either at the Federal or State level. The surety shall deposit photocopies of the letter of first appointment and last promotion, identity card, passport photographs, and shall swear to an affidavit of means and address,” Justice Raphael ordered.
The judge adjourned the case to December 12, 2024, for a full hearing of the matter.