N1.4 bn extortion: ‎FG amends charges against Peace Corps boss, Akoh

The Federal government has dropped 77 criminal count charges out of the initial 99 count filed against the National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Ambassador Dickson Akor by the Nigeria Police.

Akor and the Incorporated Trustees of the Peace Corps of Nigeria are being prosecuted by the federal government on alleged conversion of monies directly derived from recruitment exercise amounting to about N1.4bn which were considered to be an “extortion.”

Prosecution counsel from Attorney General of the Federation Chamber, Mrs T.V. C. Kuku who announced the reduction told Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja that the government has filed an amended charge but has not serve the defendants with it.

She said that the matter was fixed for yesterday for the prosecution to call witness but with the amended charge they need an adjournment.

Kuku told his colleague from the Nigeria Police James Idachaba to move his motion seeking to seal up Peace Corps National Headquarters at 57 Iya Abubakar Crescent Jabi, Abuja. In the motion the police also asked the court for temporary forfeiture of the premises it has occupied since February 28,2017.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr. John Ochogwu did not object to the request for adjournment by the prosecution . He also moved his application seeking to unseal the premises.

Justice Tsoho reserved ruling on the applications till January 15, 2018.

The Daily Times recalled that the Police had in February this year frozen 24 bank accounts belonging to the Peace Corps Commandant and state commands of the Corps and other officers.

Although, the accounts were frozen through an order of Justice Tsoho, the order was however set aside by the same Judge upon discovery that Police acted in bad fate in freezing the account in the first instance.

Justice Tsoho, in his ruling, while vacating the order, held that Police engaged in gross abuse of court process on the ground that similar order freezing the Peace Corps account was obtained at a Magistrate court in Abuja and was set aside by the same Magistrate court following a counter motion of the Peace Corps.

The matter had been adjourned till January 15, 2018, for ruling on the motion and counter motion on the sealing of the Corporate headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Abuja.

Andrew Orolua, Abuja.