From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

An Edo State Magistrate Court will on March 24, 2014 commence hearing in a case preferred against six officials of the State’s Information and Communication Technology Agency, ICTA, who were indicted for fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, while arraigning the suspects told the Oredo Magistrate Court that the accused persons used fraudulent means to steal public funds.

Those arraigned are Festus Asemota (45), Eyohan Uyi Emema (28), Fadahunsi Tayo Idowu (36), Oseni Al-Hassain (37), Uwaifo Eghosa (35) and Yakubu Omokhudu (32).

In the suit with charge number MOR/131/2014, the suspects were accused of putting on the pay roll the names of 18 persons whose appointments were earlier terminated by the state Rapid Response Agency and the Ministry of Education.

Besides, Omokhudu was accused of forging a letter of notice of appointment for himself, purporting it to have been issued by the Chief of Staff to Edo State Government, Patrick Obahiagbon.

In his own case, Ememah, was accused of forging the document of one Enoghama Elizabeth purporting it to be the document of one Osaze Ogbemudia Elizabeth.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them and the trial magistrate, Peter Edo Asemota, granted Eyohan bail in N200, 000 and two sureties in like sum who must be house owners within the Court jurisdiction, while others were granted bail in N100,000 and to produce one surety each.

The magistrate then adjourned the case till March 24, 2014.