The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former House of Representatives member for Gboko and Tarka Federal Constituency, John Dyegh, before a Federal High Court in Makurdi, Benue State capital, for allegedly violating the provisions of the ICPC Act 2000.
Dyegh was arraigned on a 5-count charge of abuse of office and money laundering before Justice Shitu Abubakar at the Federal High Court 1 sitting in Makurdi, in case number FHC/MKD/CR/184/2024.
The charges detailed alleged corrupt practices, including John Dyegh’s receipt of N18,970,000 (Eighteen Million Nine Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira) on May 19, 2014, intended for the construction of school facilities in Guma LGA of Benue State.
He was accused of allegedly channeling the funds through the First Bank account of Midag Limited, a company in which Dyegh has a substantial interest.
The alleged action of the former lawmaker is said to violate the provisions of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act of 2000.
Dyegh was further accused of having received and transferred the funds through Midag Limited and Kangnaan Global Resources Limited, companies associated with him, contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act.
The charge sheet alleged that Dyegh abused his office by privately benefiting from contracts awarded to these companies while overseeing the related funds as a signatory on their accounts.
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At the commencement of the trial, the Presiding Judge, Justice Abubakar, ordered John Dyegh to be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional facility in Makurdi, pending the determination of his bail application and adjourned the matter till Monday 11, November 2024.
When the matter came up on Monday, the Defense Counsel, S.E. Irabo, moved a bail application motion and prayed to the Court to grant the accused person bail, citing health concerns.
The ICPC, represented by Bako Along and T.S. Iorngee, did not oppose the application.
After listening to the arguments of the counsel, Justice Abubakar subsequently granted Dyegh bail in the sum of N20 million, with two sureties whose international passports and verifiable addresses must be surrendered to the Court.
Justice Abubakar adjourned the case to January 16, 2025, for a definite hearing.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
