Laraba MUREY
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arraigned the suspended Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Netufo Alaba, and a businessman, Hassan Arivi Saddiq, over an alleged N15 million contract fraud.
The anti-graft agency, in a press release titled “ICPC Arraigns Suspended Rural Electrification Agency’s Executive Director, One Other for N15 Million Contract Fraud,” said the two men were brought before Justice Celestine Obinna of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday.
Alaba is facing a four-count charge, while Saddiq has three charges against him. The charges border on abuse of office, receiving bribes, and conferring unfair advantage.
One of the charges against Alaba states that between September and October 2022, he allegedly received N15 million from Saddiq to influence contract awards at the Federal Ministry of Power. Saddiq, on the other hand, is accused of paying N10 million into Alaba’s account to secure contracts.
Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their lawyers asked the court to grant them bail, arguing that they were not flight risks and could provide reliable sureties.
ICPC’s lawyer, Abdulkareem Sulaiman, did not oppose the bail application but urged the court to impose strict conditions to prevent any delay in the trial.
Justice Obinna granted them bail at N50 million each, with a surety who must be a civil servant of at least Grade Level 10 with a verifiable address within the court’s jurisdiction.
The case was adjourned to April 4, 2025, for further hearing.
