The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has dragged the Executive Secretary of the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Jinga Mayo, to court for stealing funds meant for the committee members of the Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Board.
The spokesperson for the ICPC, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, explained that Mayo was arraigned before Justice Nathan Musa of the High Court 1 in Yola on three counts bordering on stealing.
Mayo was said to have made a false claim on the sum of N69.2m he received to pay the committee members for the 2016 pilgrimage to Israel.
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.
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The ICPC 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 accused pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against, while the prosecuting lawyer, Anas Kolo, prayed the court to fix a date for the trial.
Mayo’s lawyer, J. E. Owe, however, 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.