The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) has slammed the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State
House of Assembly, Mr. Basil Ganagana, with 10 counts of allegedly
defrauding the state government.
When the hearing came up for mentioning at the Delta High Court in
Asaba, however, the trial Judge, Justice Mabel Omovie, adjourned the
matter to May 28 when she will rule on an application by the defendant
to quash the charges.
Mr. Ganagana, who was charged along with his wife, Joan Ganagana and
his brother, Thaddeus Ganagana, in case no A/ICPC/1C/2014, is alleged to
have used his office to confer corrupt advantage upon his relatives,
contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000.
The charge sheet perused by SaharaReporters shows that Mr. Ganagana
allegedly nominated Thaddeus [for employment], leading to his engagement
as his political aide under the name of Thaddeus Ekpo while still an
employee of the Delta State Ministry of Education (Basic and Secondary),
thereby receiving salaries simultaneously from both organizations.
He was also alleged to have retained his wife, Joan Amaebi Ganagana
under a falsified name, “Amaebi Okoro” as his legal assistant while she
was still employed by the Delta State Ministry of Justice, thereby
leading to her receiving salaries simultaneously from both
organizations.
The Deputy Speaker is also charged with obtaining money by means of
an act constituting a felony, contrary to Section 13 and punishable
under Section 68 of ICPC Act, 2000.
Our correspondent reliably learned that several invitations extended
by the anti-graft agency to Mr. Ganagana were rebuffed, contrary to
Section 28(1) (a) and punishable under Section 28(10) of the ICPC Act,
2000, under which he is being charged.
No comments:
Post a Comment