Presidential probe panel arraigns Tumsah brothers

The Director of Finance and Accounts in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Ibrahim Tumsah and his brother Tijani Tumsah, also a staff of the Ministry have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja for failure to declare their assets.

Tumsahs were docked before Justice Edward Ekwo by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property.

Specifically, the two public servants are being prosecuted for refusing and neglecting to declare their assets to the special panel.

The offences ran contrary to and punishable under Section 3 (3) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act, 2004.

The presidential panel had on February 8, 2018 docked the Tumsah brothers before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Before Justice Dimgba, the duo had pleaded not guilty to the criminal charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/4/2018.

But in April, their trial was stalled as the then Federal Government prosecutor, Festus Keyamo (SAN), applied to withdraw the charge. Consequently, Justice Dimgba struck out the charge.

Almost eight months after the initial two-count charge was struck out, the presidential probe panel, led by Obono Obla, relisted the suit labelled “incidental charge” due to alleged non cooperation of the mega-rich public servants who have been with investigators since January this year.

Basically, the fresh two-count charge centres on the refusal and neglect by the two brothers to cooperate with the panel over declaration of their assets.

The fresh charge was contained in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/78/2018.

Consequent upon arraignment before Justice Ekwo on Tuesday, the Tumsah brothers again pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

At the proceeding, Celsus Ukpong, announced appearance for the presidential panel, Abdul Mohammed represented the first defendant (Ibrahim Tumsah) while Bamikole Aduloju entered appearance for Tijani Tumsah.

Meanwhile, the two defendants were granted bail to the tune of N10million each, with one surety in like sum.

The judge also barred them from travelling abroad without leave of court, directing that they should deposit their valid international passports with the registrar of the court.

Also, the court ordered that the sureties must be owners of landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court.

The title deeds of the landed properties must be duly verified by the court and the originals submitted to the registrar of the court.

More so, Justice Ekwo ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody if they fail to fulfill the bail condition.

Having been granted bail, the court now fixed January 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 2019 for commencement of their trial.