John Dyegh
Victory Oghene
A former member of the House of Representatives, John Dyeg, has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences commission for abuse of office and money laundering.
John Dyegh, who served as a member of the 9th National Assembly, representing Gboko/Tarka Federal constituency at the House of Representatives of Nigeria, was arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, for allegedly violating the provisions of the ICPC Acts 2000.
The lawmaker was arraigned on Monday on a five-count charge before Hon. Justice M. Shitu Abubakar at the Federal High Court 1 sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, under case number FHC/MKD/CR/184/2024.
The charges detail alleged corrupt practices, including Dyegh’s receipt of N18,970,000 (Eighteen Million Nine Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira) on May 19, 2014, intended for the construction of school facilities in Guma, Benue State.
John Dyegh was accused of allegedly channeling the funds through the First Bank account of Midag Limited, a company in which Dyegh has a substantial interest. This alleged action violates Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act, of 2000.
He was further alleged to have received and transferred these funds through Midag Limited and Kangnaan Global Resources Limited, companies associated with him, contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act.
Dyegh allegedly abused his office by privately benefitting from contracts awarded to the companies while overseeing the related funds as a signatory on their accounts, according to the charge sheet.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Abubakar, at the commencement of the trial last Friday ordered Dyegh’s to be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Center, Makurdi, pending the determination of his bail application and adjourned the matter till Monday 11, November, 2024.
However, at the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, November 11, 2024, Defense Counsel S.E. Irabo moved a bail application of his client Dyegh.
He prayed the court to grant his client the bail citing health concerns.
Justice Abubakar, after listening to the argument of the counsels, subsequently granted Dyegh bail in the amount of N20 million, requiring two sureties with international passports to be surrendered to the court and verifiable addresses.
Meanwhile, Justice Abubakar later adjourned the case until January 16, 2025, for a definite hearing of the corrupt case preferred against the former federal lawmaker.
