N90.7M VETERINARY SCAM: Accused Absence Stalls Trial

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The trial of the Registrar of Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Dr. Daniel Maddo and two other former officials of the Council, was stalled on Monday as one of the accused persons failed to show up for trial.

 

The absent accused person, Dr. Hilary Ibe, was said to be unavoidably absent due to medical reasons.

 

His lawyer, Mr. Cosmas Okpara told the trial judge that Dr. Ibe had eye surgery and is still recuperating at the hospital.

 

He tendered a medical report from the hospital to substantiate the claims.

 

He apologised to the court for the development and stated that the eye problem which his client was suffering from degenerated recently and required the surgery to restore his sight.

 

The Veterinary staff were standing trial for allegedly misappropriating over N90.7 million being fund meant for the payment of personnel entitlement as well as the payment of promotion arrears to some staff.

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They were granted bail by the court presided over by Justice Abubakar Talba in the sum of N1 million with one surety each who must be a civil servant who must be on grade level 15.

 

The trial of Dr. Maddo and the former officials of the Veterinary Council followed a rigorous campaign mounted against them by a self-styled anti- corruption crusader, Mr. Emmanuel Ebirim who blew the whistle on the fraud being perpetrated by the leadership of the Council.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, swung into action and established a prima facie case against them and subsequently arraigned them on a 14-count charge.

 

Justice Talba adjourned the matter till 20 July 2011.

 

—Nnamdi Felix / Abuja

 

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