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Muhammed Wakil, a former Minister of State for power in the country, is to be remanded in prison custody till March 31, 2021, over his alleged involvement in the mismanagement of the N27 billion set aside for the payment of the retirement benefits to staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, slammed him with a two-count charge bordering on corruption and abuse of office.
Wakil was brought before Justice S.B. Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, alongside two companies; Corozzeria Nigeria Limited and Pikat Properties Nigeria Limited, for allegedly receiving N148 million as gratification from Bestworth Insurance Brokers Limited out of the N27.1 billion approved outstanding insurance premiums and claims of deceased and incapacitated staff of the defunct PHCN.
An Abuja High Court has remanded a former Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption.
Wakil, who was arrested by the EFCC at his Abuja residence on Sunday, was arraigned on Monday before Justice Suleiman Belgore on two counts bordering on corruption and abuse of office.
He was arraigned alongside two companies, Corozzeria Nigeria Limited and Pikat Properties Nigeria Limited.
According to the anti-graft agency, the former minister allegedly received N118 million as gratification from Bestworth Insurance Brokers Limited, out of the N27,188,232,208 approved outstanding insurance premiums and claims of deceased and incapacitated staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
EFCC arraigns ex-Nigerian minister on N148 million corruption charges premiumtimesng.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from premiumtimesng.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Senator Richard Gordon (Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Gordon, who chairs the said panel investigating the slow implementation of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, said the delay in the issuance of license plates have caused undue damage to vehicle owners and is considered a violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“Whoever causes damage to third parties and other agencies that’s anti-graft. Because you’re talking here of a huge amount of money that reached them, so that may qualify for plunder. That’s what we are thinking of recommending,” Gordon said in Filipino in an interview over Radio DZBB.
By Kingsley Nwezeh
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a former Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), Benjamin Ezra Dikki, before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on four counts of alleged corruption and abuse of office.
A statement issued by EFCC said Dikki, who was docked alongside his company, Kebna Studios and Communications Limited, allegedly received about a billion naira as gratification from Bestworth Insurance Brokers for his role in facilitating the approval of outstanding insurance premiums and claims of deceased and incapacitated staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).