Drama ensued on Wednesday after operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission re-arrested a serving Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Clement Onubuogo, over alleged SURE-P fraud.
Onubuogo was picked up on the premises of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he was already standing trial for allegedly diverting funds from the Sure-P programme launched by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The anti-graft agency after picking him up also obtained an interim order to seize two properties belonging to Onubuogo as well as the sums of N664,475,246.6 and $137,680.11 found in his bank accounts.
The permanent secretary had on Wednesday appeared in court for the continuation of his trial before Justice Kuewumi. However, when the case was called, the EFCC prosecutor was absent in the courtroom.
In the circumstance, Onubuogo’s lawyer, A. Dada, asked for an adjournment, arguing that his client was very ill.
The judge, who was displeased with the development, said he had adjourned several cases so as to devote enough time to the hearing of Onubuogo’s case on Wednesday.
The judge, however, acceded to the prayer for an adjournment, shortly after which the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, stepped into the courtroom, followed by the defence counsel, who was already on his way out.
But Oyedepo said there was no law that stopped anyone undergoing trial from being re-arrested for another criminal matter.
“The money belongs to all of us and we should all support efforts towards recovering it,” Oyedepo said.
The EFCC accused Onubuogo of acquiring properties with funds he allegedly diverted from SURE-P, a youth empowerment scheme launched by ex-President Jonathan.
One of the properties is his house known as Clement Illoh’s Mansion located at Ikom Quarters, Issala-Azegba, Delta State, while the other, a hotel, is said to be located at No. 19, Madue Nwofor Street, off Achala Ibuzo Road, Asaba, Delta State.
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