The Registrar of a Magistrate Court in Enugu state, Anikwu Ambrose Ifesinachi, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment without of option of fine for demanding bribe in the course of discharging his official duty.

Ifesinachi was accused of demanding a bribe of N80, 000 from the relation of a suspect who had been in custody for two years before processing his warrant of release.

After persistent demands, the relation approached the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, who gave him marked money.

As soon as the accused collected the money, he was arrested by the operatives of the commission and was charged on two counts under the ICPC Act.

The case which commenced in 2010, suffered numerous adjournments at the instance of the defence.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered some exhibits while the accused gave evidence without calling any witness.

In his defence, he claimed to have collected the money on behalf of the complainants whom he did not call as a witness.

Delivering judgment, Justice A. A. Nwobodo, of the Enugu High Court, convicted the accused person for contravening section 10 (a) (ii) of the ICPC Act of 2000.