Okoi Obono-Obla, a former aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, sacked in 2019, has been charged before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court with diverting N19.9 million office procurement fund.

Mr. Obono-Obla, who was the head of a presidential panel on recovery of public assets, was charged alongside his protocol official, Aliyu Ibrahim, and an official of ABR Global Petroleum Resources Limited, Daniel Omughele.

Anti-graft ICPC prosecutor Samuel Ipinlaye told the court that the funds received by Mr. Obono-Obla from NDIC was diverted into the account of Aliyu Ibrahim, using proxy companies, according to a transcript of proceedings seen by Peoples Gazette. Mr. Ipinlaye said the funds stolen money was earmarked for office furnishing.

The offence contravened Section 26(1)(c) and is punishable under Section 19 of Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

Another charge accused Mr. Obono-Obla of using a fraudulently-obtained certificate that bore the letterhead of Mary Knoll College, Ogoja, which he claimed to have obtained in May/June 1982 under the name Ofem Okoi Ofem. The certificate number was 09403/247, and it carried O’Level six credits score.

Mr. Obono-Obla and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty, praying that the court grant them bail in liberal terms.

Mr. Ipinlaye, however, requested that the court grant them bail on conditions that will mandate their attendance in court for trial.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi granted the defendants bail at 10 million each and a surety in like sum.

The accused were also asked to submit their international passports with the senior court registrar.

The matter was then adjourned until March 17, 18 and 19 for opening of trial. 

Mr. Buhari was compelled to sack Mr. Obono-Obla in September 2019 after the ICPC raised strong claims of fraud and certificate forgery against him.