EFCC Arraigns Prisons Accountant for N83m Fraud

Mrs Akon Esu-Nte

 In a country where our prisons are in a deplorable state, a country where prisoners do not even have enough meal to go round,  prisons where, there are no enough beds and other amenities,  prisons where, the condition of survival is very poor, a prison system where prisoners are not rehabilitated or prepared to face their future and be batter citizens, in the midst of these in insufficiency, a woman is been tried for fraud, Abuse of office and Stealing of Public Funds.

Tell me, how best do we describe this woman that should care for the welfare of the prisoners??

Esu-Nte is alleged to have abused her office by stealing over N83 million of prisons funds with which she acquired exotic cars and different properties across FCT while earning a monthly salary of N121,460 as a level 14 officer.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, November 14, 2014 arraigned one Mrs Akon Esu-Nte (Alias Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte), an accountant with the Nigeria Prison Service, before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the FCT High Court, Apo, Abuja, on a 6-count charge bordering on fraud, stealing and abuse of office.

Esu-Nte is alleged to have abused her office by stealing over N83 million of prisons funds with which she acquired exotic cars and different properties across FCT while earning a monthly salary of N121,460 as a level 14 officer.

Esu-Nte is also alleged to be a signatory to the accounts of three companies which include, Abasiaga Global Resources Limited, Abasiono Nigeria Limited and Ememima Global Ventures Limited which were all established after she was posted from Ministry of Finance to Nigeria Prisons.

Esu-Nte pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her.

One of the charges read: “That you, Akon Esu-Nte (Alias Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte) being a public officer at the Nigeria Prison Service headquarters, Abuja on or about the 9th day of October, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did use your office and position to confer corrupt and unfair advantage on yourself  and your associate, ID Integrated Petroleum Product Limited to secure contract worth N27, 790,000.00(Twenty Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira only) for the supply of 2779 number prisoners Aluminium Cooking Pots at Zones B and F of the Nigeria Prison Service and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”

In view of the plea of the accused, counsel to the prosecution, Larrys Aso Peters, asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the accused in prison custody. However, counsel to the accused, S. I. Ameh, SAN, asked the court to grant his client bail as the offence was bailable and that she will be available to face her trial.

Justice Adeniyi granted the accused bail in the sum of N50 million and two sureties who should be of the rank of director in a government establishment. The sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and swear to affidavit of means.

The case was adjourned to 27 and 28 January, 2015 for trial.