The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former Acting Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Professor Alex Akpa, on a 4-count charge, bordering on fraud, abuse of office and other ancillary offences.
This was contained in a statement released on
Thursday by the commission’s spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua.
Professor Akpa was docked alongside Mr.
Famous Daunemigha and Wesley Ebi Siasia, a former member of the Governing Board
and an Ex-Director of Finance and Accounts of the Agency respectively.
ICPC in a Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/302/22,
brought before Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting
in Abuja, had accused the defendants of diverting into private pockets the sum
of N400m meant for the establishment of Bioresources Development Centres in
four states of the Federation.
The Court was further informed of how the
said sum of N400m which the former Acting DG claimed to be an intervention fund
for the biotechnology agency was shared among the trio in the ratio of N260m,
N50m and N40m.
Counsel to ICPC, Golden Iwuagwu, also told
the Court that the Commission has readied up seven witnesses to testify against
the accused.