Activist Arrested For Demanding N50m Bribe To Withdraw Petition
Two human rights activists have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly demanding a bribe from Wahum Nigeria Limited.
Dandy Eze, President of the Path of Peace Initiatives, and one Solomon Johnson, approached Wahum Nigeria Limited in 2018 to demand N50million to help facilitate the withdrawal of a petition written against the company, which they claimed was being investigated by the EFCC.
The sum of N1million had already been collected by the duo as part payment through a First Bank account number 3081329952 operated by Johnson, according to the investigation.
They were arraigned before a Lagos State Special Offences Court on four counts bordering on conspiracy to commit felony and acceptance of bribe to the tune of N50milliom.
The charges read: “That you, Dandy Eze, being the President of the Path of Peace Initiatives, and Solomon Johnson, on or about November 23, 2018, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, solicited the sum of N50m only as bribe in order to facilitate the withdrawal of a petition written against Wahum Nigeria Limited from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“That you, Dandy Eze, being the President of the Path of Peace Initiatives, and Solomon Johnson, on or about November 26, 2018, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, did accept the sum of N1m as bribe through the First Bank account number 3081329952 operated by Solomon Johnson from Wahum Nigeria Limited in order to facilitate the withdrawal of a petition written against Wahum Nigeria Limited from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In view of their plea, the prosecuting counsel, George Chia-Yakua, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.
Counsel for the defendants, Terry Adeniji, told the court that he had just been briefed about the case. Adeniji, therefore, asked the court for a short date to enable him to file a proper bail application. He also prayed the court to remand the defendants in the EFCC custody.
Chia-Yakua responded and urged the court to refuse the prayer of the defence counsel to remand the defendants in the EFCC custody.
The presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Dada, adjourned the matter till February 14 and 15, 2019, for the hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.
She, thereafter, remanded the suspects in prison custody.
