By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned the Director-General of Project Development Institute (PRODA) Enugu, Dr. Charles Agulanna, before Hon. Justice Buba Ibrahim of the Federal High Court Enugu, for allegedly committing procurement fraud.
He is facing a one-count charge.
President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered Dr. Agulanna’s suspension in November 2020.
The suspension order was contained in an internal memo the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, addressed to the Minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnaya Onu.
In the memo dated November 5, 2020, the SGF urged the minister to ensure that the director-general complied with the suspension and ordered that the most senior director in the agency should superintend over its affairs until all investigations into the allegations against Agulanna were concluded.
A statement by the spokesperson for ICPC, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, on Friday, which was sighted by TheNiche said Agulanna, who is facing a one-count charge, committed the alleged crime sometime in August 2017 or thereabout.
The statement alleged that “while being the Director General of Projects Development Institute,” Dr. Agulanna “committed procurement fraud by awarding a contract for the revaluation of land belonging to PRODA in the sum of N23,500,037.50 to T.O. Thomas & Co., even when the company was not a registered surveyor/valuer and did not submit any memorandum of understanding with any registered surveyor/valuer in its tender bid, an offence contrary to section 58(4)(b) and punishable under section 58(5) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.”
“When the charge was read to the accused, Engr. Agulanna, he pleaded not guilty.
“The defense counsel, G.D. Joshua Esq, who had earlier submitted a written bail application, prayed the court to grant his client bail, stating that he was a man of credible personality that would not jump bail.
“The ICPC counsel, O.J. Ochigbo did not oppose the bail, but said the court should grant him bail with stringent conditions.
“Justice Ibrahim granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N5 million and two reliable sureties in the like sum.
“The Judge also asked the defendant and his sureties to submit two passport photographs each to the court, and thereafter adjourned the matter to October 21, 2021 for hearing.”
