Nigeria's anti-graft agency, the EFCC has gone after a Provost and other staff of a Federal Institution, arraigning them over fraudulent practices.
Dr. Nkereuwem Etukudo, the Provost of the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology, Jos, Plateau State, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday for alleged fraud, embezzlement and diversion of public funds running into millions of naira.
According to Punch. also arraigned with Etukudo were two members of staff of the institution and two contractors. They are the Accountant/Bursar, Mr. Yusuf Samuel; the Data Analyst, Mr. Ernest Demto; and Messrs Esio Udoh and Goodluck Echenwa, described as contractors.
They were arraigned before Justice Y.D. Dakwak of Court 2 of Jos High Court.
However, the charges, contained in suit No. PLDJ/36c/2015, were not formally read to the accused in court. The prosecution counsel, Mr. Steve Odiase, told the court that though the case was meant to start on Monday, one of the accused persons, Ernest Demto, was down with kidney disease. He said Demto was receiving treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja.
He said that since they were to be jointly arraigned, it was improper to continue with the case since justice would not be seen to have been done if only four people were arraigned.
Odiase asked for a fairly long adjournment to enable the parties to prepare. He also called for prayers of a quick recovery of the accused.
He added that if by the next adjourned date he is still unfit to stand prosecution, he would amend the charges to enable the case to go on.
Dakwak granted the plea of the prosecution counsel and adjourned the case to May 2.