A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday ordered that a charge filed against the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ), Nsima Ekere, be served on him through substituted means.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had last month filed the charge marked: CR/187/18 against Ekere and NDDC.
The ICPC accused Ekere and NDDC of obstructing its ongoing investigation into projects executed by the agency.
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, in a ruling, directed ICPC to dispense with personal service and serve the charge on any official in the Legal Department of NDDC at its headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The judge’s ruling was on an application filed by the prosecution lawyer, Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, who complained about the difficulty encountered by the ICPC in its bids to serve the charge on Ekere.
“Our officials have gone to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt on many occasions. The 2nd defendant (Ekere) has been evading service. He has refused to attend office,” Akponimisingha said.
Justice Adeniyi adjourned the case till June 21 for arraignment.
The ICPC, in the two-count charge with, NDDC and Ekere listed as defendants, accused Ekere of frustrating its investigation into some projects executed by the NDDC.
Particularly, ICPC accused Ekere of refusing to honour invitation and request for documents on the construction of Umuihe-Odo-Umuanya Road, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.
The charge reads:
That you Mr. Nsima U. Ekere Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), sometime in the month of March 2017 or thereabout, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court wilfully refused to honour a lawful invitation/request for document through a letter reference lCPC/ CH/ CSU.MS/170/ 2017, dated March 9. 2017 and received on March 16. 2017 by the independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in respect of investigation activities on the project file(s) on the construction of Umuihe-Odo-Umuanya Road, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State and you thereby commuted an offence contrary to and punishable under section 28(10) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act. 2000.
That you Mr Nsima U. Ekere Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Niger Delta Development Commission, sometime in the month of March 2017 or thereabout, within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired to frustrate investigation activities of the Commission (ICPC) by willfully refusing to honour lawful invitation/request for document through a letter reference ICPC/CH//CSU, MS/170/2017 dated March 9, 2017 and received on March 16, 2017 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) in respect of investigation activities on the project file(s) on Umuihe-Odo-Umuanya Road, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State and you thereby commuted an offence contrary to Section 20(c) and punishable under Section 15(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act. 2000.
