By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has taken a former registrar of the Benue State School of Health Technology, Agasha, to court. Mr. Awuawe Terwase Clement is facing allegations of being involved in a N4.4 million admission racketeering scheme. This development was shared by Demola Bakare, the Acting Director of Public Enlightenment and Education
Spokesperson for the Commission disclosed this in a statement signed on Thursday.
Mr. Terwase was arraigned on Tuesday by the ICPC before Justice Egbe Joshua Raphael of the Federal High Court 2 Makurdi for allegedly collecting and diverting the sum of Four Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (4,466,500) paid by unsuspecting admission seekers into the institution.
He was said to have collected the alleged sum after the sale of admission form had been closed by the institution for the year.
The former Registrar, in a three-count charge preferred against him by the ICPC was also accused of making a false statement to the officers of the Commission in the course of investigation which is an offence under Section 25(1) (a) and punishable under Section 25 (ii) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related offences Act 2000.
The Count One against the defendant reads: “That you, AWUAWE TERWASE CLEMENT (m) between 2018 and 2019 at Guma Local Government Area of Benue State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while being a Public Officer as the Registrar of School of Health Technology Agasha used your position to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by collecting a total sum of N4,476,500(Four Million Four Hundred and Seventy Six Thousand Five Hundred Naira) when you continued to sell admission forms to unsuspecting prospective students after the closure of sales for your personal use and therefore committed any offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
Mr. Tervase however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
In the light of the ‘not guilty’ plea, counsel to the defendant, Mr. Kelvin Iorzenda moved an application for bail on behalf of his client.
The Prosecution counsel, Mr. T. S Iorngee on his part, did not oppose the bail application moved by the counsel to the defendant.
The presiding judge, Justice Egbe Joshua Raphael thereafter granted the defendant bail in the sum of two Million Naira (2,000.000) and one surety in like sum.
The judge said that: “The surety shall be a Public or Civil Servant either at the Federal or State.
“The Surety shall deposit photocopies of letter of first Appointment and last promotion, Identity Card, Passports Photographs and shall swear to affidavit of means and address.”
The matter was adjourned to December 12, 2024 for hearing.
The defendant was able to perfect his bail conditions before the close of work on Tuesday.
