ICPC Arraigns SMEDAN Ex-Boss For N184m Fraud
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Bature Umar Masari who is a former Director-General of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) before an FCT High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja on a 27-count charge bothering on money laundering and embezzlement.
He was arraigned on Monday on allegations of fraudulently awarding constituency project contracts to the tune of N184.5 million without due process, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The ICPC accused him of receiving the sum of N50 million in November 27, 2014, from one of the contractors and distributed part of the sum to some other persons.
The offence contravenes the provisions of Section 10 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Following his arraignment, he was granted bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties, who must be in the civil service and at director level.
The case was then adjourned to November 26, 2018 for commencement of trial.
