N104m fraud: Ogbulafor knows fate today

By Ameh Ejekwonyilo
Abuja

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja has fixed today for judgment in the case against a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor over alleged fraud.
The trial judge, Justice Ishaq Bello had reserved judgment in the matter for July 24, 2014, but was indisposed.
He had adjourned the case for judgment after the adoption of written addresses by the counsel in the matter.
Chief Ogbulafor was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) along with Emeka Ebilah, who was a member of National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC)over alleged award of fictitious contracts to the tune of N104 million.
Adopting his address, defence counsel James Egwuonwu prayed the court to discharge the accused persons for want of evidence.
He said no monies were traced directly to the former PDP chairman or his companies.
Meanwhile, Ebilah had indicated intention to appeal three questions of law brought for the interpretation of the court.
According to his counsel Eghwere Osiaje, section 295 (2) of the 1999 Constitution provides for a trial court to refer an issue of law to the Appeal Court if a party requested it.
But prosecution counsel, Mr. Marcus Abu urged the court to discountenance the application, arguing that the questions, which included whether the government can prosecute in a matter in which it has benefited by taxing the funds, are not “substantial issues of law.”
The ICPC listed the companies that benefitted from the contracts to include: Emperor Nigeria Ltd: N15 million; DHL Consultants Ltd N12.3 million; Chekwas Industries Ltd: N27.2 million; Ebilah-Salmon and Partners: N6.7 million; Henchriko Nigeria Ltd: N93.3 million; and Comp-Con Associates: N13.6 million.
Ogbulafor had maintained that he played no role in the award and verification of the contract because he was not a member of NEIC.