ICPC arraigns ex-registrar over alleged admission racketeering

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has brought charges against Awuawe Clement, the former Registrar of the Benue State School of Health Technology in Agasha, for alleged involvement in admission racketeering.

Clement is accused of collecting and misappropriating a total of N4,466,500 from unwitting admission seekers.

In a statement released on Thursday, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare indicated that the Commission has filed three charges against Clement, including making false statements to ICPC officers during the investigation.

According to the statement, the conduct is classified as an offence under Section 25(1)(a) and is punishable under Section 25(ii)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. Upon the reading of the charges, Clement pleaded not guilty.

READ ALSO :NDLEA proposes mandatory drug tests for Nigerian varsity admission

The first count against him states: “That you, CLEMENT, between 2018 and 2019, at Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a Public Officer as the Registrar of the School of Health Technology, Agasha, used your position to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by collecting a total sum of N4,476,500. You continued to sell admission forms to unsuspecting prospective students after the closure of sales for your personal use and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”

The charges allege that Clement collected this sum after the sale of admission forms had already ended for the academic year.

Mr. Kelvin Iorzenda, representing the defendant, submitted a bail application on Clement’s behalf. The prosecution, led by Mr. T. S. Lorngee, did not contest the bail request.

Justice Egbe Raphael, the presiding judge, subsequently granted bail to the defendant in the amount of two million naira (N2,000,000) and required one surety for a similar amount.

The judge stated, “The surety shall be a Public or Civil Servant, either at the Federal or State level. The surety shall deposit photocopies of the letter of first appointment and last promotion, identity card, passport photographs, and shall swear to an affidavit of means and address.”

The case has been adjourned to December 12, 2024, for further hearing.