Dennis Udoma
A High Court in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Wednesday arraigned five persons for impersonating personnel of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The suspects, Mr. Emmanuel Akpabio, Adediran Destiny, Nsikak Ebiti, Unyime Udo and Esther Udoh are alleged to have approached Mr. Jeremaiah Efe, a staff of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as ICPC staff claiming that, he has a petition to answer to with the commission.
Justice Ifiok Ukana of Court five, Uyo Judicial Division, while hearing on the matter said, the accused conspired among themselves to commit a felony to wit, falsely posing as employees of the ICPC to one Jeremiah Efe of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly with a view to defrauding him.
He noted that the act of impersonation of a public officer is punishable under Section 108 (2) of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Charge No HU/86C/2016, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the five accused persons reads: “On the 8th day of July, at about 10 a.m at the State House of Assembly, Uyo, within the Court’s jurisdiction falsely presented themselves to one Jeremiah Efe that, they are public officers to wit staff of the ICPC and that there was a petition against the said Jeremiah Efe in ICPC.”
And in Count 2, the five accused persons were charged with conspiracy contrary to and, punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The accused persons all pleaded not guilty to the charge proffered against them.
Justice Ukana, however, granted them N5m bail each with two sureties each in like sums adding that, one of the two sureties in each case must be, at least, a level 12 officer in Akwa Ibom State public service resident in Uyo.
The other surety must be a resident of Uyo metropolis with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, he said.
ICPC Commissioner in charge of South-South, Mr. Henry Emore, said the arraignment will serve as a deterrent to others who indulge in acts of impersonation of public officers.
“Cases of impersonation are rampant in Akwa Ibom and even in the last West African School Certificate Examination impersonators were rampant at centres when candidates were writing examinations”.
According to him, “they met the principal of the school and expressed their disapproval with the conduct of the examination with a view to defrauding the principal”.
Justice Ukana however, adjourned the case till November 2 this year.
