The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested one Dr Nkereuwem Etok for embezzling N20m AIDS funds.
Etok, who is the Director and Project Manager of Akwa Ibom State Agency for Control of AIDS, on Friday arraigned before Justice A. Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on a five-count bordering on abuse of office and money laundering.
Herald Nigeria learnt that the said amount was released to his agency in 2018 by the office of the Secretary to the State Government for outreach, sensitisation, HIV testing/counselling and purchase of screening and a confirmatory test tiebreaker.
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However, Ntok only used about N6m for the purpose for which the money was released and diverted the rest for personal use.
One of the counts against the accused read, “That you Dr Nkereuwem Etok between 26th and 28th November, 2018 at Uyo within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, while being Director and Project Supervisor of Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS did convert a total sum of N24,700,200.00, knowing that the said fund is a proceed of your unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).”
He pleaded not guilty, but adjourning the case to October 16 and 17, 2019, Justice Okeke ordered that he be remanded in prison custody.