Docked at Last
By Sebastine Obasi
Monday, May 12, 2008
Kenny Martins and Ibrahim Dumuje, the two principal accused persons in the N50 billion police equipment fraud have now been arraigned in court
The law appears to be taking its course on the N50 billion fraud in the Police Equipment Fund, PEF. Kenny Martins, national co-ordinator of the fund and Ibrahim Dumuje, his deputy, have finally been arraigned. This is sequel to the warrant of arrest issued on them by an Abuja chief magistrate court.
Martins had driven to Louis Edet House, force headquarters Abuja, to keep an appointment with Mike Okiro, the inspector-general of Police. While he was waiting in the IG's ante room, Ahmadu Ali, commissioner of Police and head of monitoring unit came in. The CP invited Martins to his own office, where he was told he was under arrest.
When Dumuje's whereabout was sought, Martins confirmed that he was on his way to the force headquarters. At about 1.30 pm, Dumuje arrived and was immediately arrested.
They were both arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court, which had a week earlier issued their warrant of arrest. Two other lawyers, Joni Icheka and Cosmos Okpara, who were charged along with Martins and Dumuje, two weeks ago, were, however, absent at last week's sitting of the court.
Few days before the arrest and arraignment of Martins and Dumuje, there was an altercation between Martins and the IG. Martins had alleged that the IG asked him to "settle" Festus Keyamo, human rights lawyer, with a Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV and N10 million to avoid prosecution. Keyamo is the complainant and counsel to Godson Ewulum, co-founder of PEF, who exposed the scam. But in a statement signed by Agberebi Akpoebi, assistant commissioner of police and force public relations officer, the police described the allegations levelled against Okiro as malicious, false and unfounded. He enjoined the public to disregard the claims. "The inspector-general of police, Sir Mike Okiro, wishes to state in very clear terms, that he was never a party to the dispute between Kenny Martins and Festus Keyamo and so could not have played any role in the alleged bribe scandal. It is surprising that a personality such as Kenny Martins who knows his right under the law, would state that the IGP "forced" him to offer bribe to parties involved in a case with him. The IGP wishes to advise Kenny Martins to uphold the truth at all times and tell Nigerians how he managed the fund of the Foundation rather than attempt to drag the Nigeria Police Force and its good name into a case before the court," the statement said.
In his reaction, Keyamo said there is no truth in the allegations by Martins. "It is nothing but a concoction, fabrication and a tissue of lies, from a desperate criminal who is on the run from the long arm of the law. It is an attempt to distract the attention of the public from the case of fraud, forgery and deceit. He does not deserve the dignity of a lengthy response. I challenge him to write a petition, so that the case could be followed up. It is not enough to just make an empty claim," he said.
Keyamo also challenged Martins to tell the public the particulars of the vehicle, the chassis number and the day he gave him the vehicle and money. He wondered how the inspector-general of Police would preside over a meeting of "alleged blackmailers and extortionists," asking why Martins had to wait till he was declared wanted, before coming up with the allegations.
At the Chief Magistrate Court, Martins and Dumuje are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and forgery. The charges are: "That you Joni Icheka, Cosmas Okpara, Kenny Martins and Ibrahim Dumuje, on or about the 31st day of March 2006, at Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, within the Abuja magisterial district did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: forge documents relating to Corporate Affairs Commission and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 96[1] of the Penal Code, Cap 532 laws of the federation of Nigeria 1990 [Abuja]. That you Joni Icheka, Cosmas Okpara, Kenny Martins, Ibrahim Dumuje, on or about the 31st of March, 2006, at Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, within the Abuja magisterial district, did forge form CAC 7 of NIGERSTALG Limited, with intent to defraud the Police Equipment Fund and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 364 of Penal Code Act Cap 532 laws of the Federation of Nigeria1990[Abuja]."
After the charges were read to the accused, Mike Ozekhome, their counsel told the court that his clients were responsible citizens and would not run away, which was why they would be in court to defend the allegations against them. He applied for their bail.
Sunday Ochimana, the chief magistrate, granted the application but with conditions. The conditions were that each of them would be granted bail in the sum of one million Naira, with each having a surety who must have landed property in Abuja. The surety could equally be a legal practitioner with a 12-year post call or a civil servant not below grade level 08. The two other accused had earlier been granted bail. Hearing on the matter was further adjourned till June 4.
Police Equipment Fund which was changed to a Foundation by Martins and Dumuje, had been a subject of controversy, due to the scam associated with it. At the last count, three of its board members have resigned. When Sa'ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto resigned as chairman of the Foundation, he wrote to President Umar Yar'Adua to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate the activities of the Foundation. The EFCC's investigation has not been concluded.
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