Ex-FIIRO DG, Chima Igwe, Arraigned Over Alleged False Information

The Defendant,Chima Cartney Igwe

Ex-FIIRO DG, Chima Igwe, Arraigned Over Alleged False Information

A Lagos Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja has ordered a former Director General of Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Chima Cartney Igwe to be remanded in Nigeria Correctional Services for allegedly giving a false information. 

The trial Justice Sherifat Solebo ordered his remand following his arraignment by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) on a three count-charge, pending perfection of his bail.

ICPC in a charge marked ID/15716C/2021, alleged that Chima sometimes in December 2002, while being a public officer knowingly gave a document with false information to his employer.

Arraigning the defendant, the prosecutor, Mr. Henry Emore, informed the  court that the prosecution file a charge dated may 4 and was filed on July 15, 2021 against the defendant (Igwe), prayed the court to take the plea of the defendant.

The prosecutor also alleged that defendant being an officer with Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), did confer unfair advantage upon himself by presenting an Attestation Letter to the Institute signifying the completion of PhD programme in Applied Chemistry at University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Republic of Benin consequent upon which he got many promotions and rose through the rank to the Directorate cadre.

He was said to have commited offences bordering on bordering on giving false information with intent to decieve, using office to confer unfair advantage upon himself and making false statement to public officer.

The offences are contrary to and punishable to section 17(1)(c), 19 and  25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same Act.

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to all the counts charge.

Following his plea of not guilty, his Counsel, Mr. E. O. Ekong told court that he has filed his client’s bail application dated September 27, 2021 and same has been served on the prosecutor. He therefore prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail pending his trial in the suit.

Responding to the bail appllication, the prosecutor told court that he is not opposing granting bail to the defendant. But told the court he have three witnesses to testify in the trial, urged the court to remand the defendant.

Delivering ruling on the bail appllication, Justice Sholebo, granted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must have their addresses verified by the Registrar. 

The judge also ordered that the sureties must show to court evidence of three years tax payment to Lagos State government.

The judge while adjourning the matter to February 24, 2022, for trial, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the time he will perfect the bail terms. 

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