The rector of the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Samuel Johnson and the acting bursar, Werepere Degbegha as well as one Yerikema Tombra have been arraigned for complicity in a N6,000,000 fraud.
The defendants were brought before Honorable Justice M.A Ayemieye of High Court 2, sitting in Yenagoa, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on allegations bordering on ‘using office to confer corrupt advantage, conspiracy and making false statement.’
ICPC, in a 7-count charge, is accusing the rector and the acting bursar of conspiring and using their offices to confer corrupt advantage on themselves when they withdrew the above sum from the confers of the institute under the guise of spending the money on renovations of a viewing centre in Tropani Community while investigation revealed otherwise.
On the other hand, Mr Tombra is standing trial for knowingly making a false statement to an officer of the commission in the course of exercising his duties when he (Tombra) stated that he was not in the office whereas he was actually in office.
