Prof John Kester Ifeanyichukwu
By Our Reporter
Professor John Kester Ifeanyichukwu 8s currently battling to exonerate self from a $40,000 bribe scandal. He was alleged to have offered an officer of the ICPC $40,000 and a house in Abuja as rewards for retrieving evidence. Bases on this, the ICPCÂ has arraigned him for bribery and inducement.
Professor Ifeanyichukwu was initially being investigated for corruption and money laundering as petitioned by the presidency.
In a single-count charge brought before Honourable Justice A.O. Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court 12, sitting in Apo, Abuja, ICPC is accusing the professor of issuing a cheque valued at $40,000 to a staff of the Commission.
The cheque was part of the $50,000 and a house in Abuja which he promised the officer he approached to help him retrieve his MacBook S/N CIML8BUGDTY3, MacBook S/N W80204J7ATN and iPhone pro11 which were in the custody of ICPC.
ICPC, in a Charge No: CR/025/2022, informed the court of how the defendant allegedly induced one of its operatives to smuggle out a particular iPhone and a laptop and to replace them with a dummy that was to be provided by his personal assistant
The accused person’s action is contrary to Section 18 (b) and punishable under Section 18 (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Ifeanyichukwu pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
He was granted bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and one of them must have a landed property in Abuja.
His travels document were to be submitted to the court , too.
The judge adjourned the case to 21st of June.