The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two former employees of Bayelsa State, Apiri Tonye, and Paul Charles, on four counts of conspiracy and stealing of N14.7m belonging to the state.
The charge sheet obtained by our correspondent in Yenagoa showed that Tonye and Charles were brought before the State High Court presided over by Justice Kate Abiri.
Abiri is the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State.
Tonye was a former Head of Capital Expenditure in the Bayelsa State Accountant-General’s office, while Charles was a former accountant with the Bayelsa State Directorate for Project Monitoring and Implementation.
They were accused of stealing N14.7m earmarked for the monitoring of projects in the state.
On first count, Tonye and Charles were said to have, between June and August 2011, conspired to commit felony contrary to Section 445 of the Criminal Code of Bayelsa State of Nigeria, 2006.
On the second count, the suspects were alleged to have “on June 3, 2011 at Yenagoa, within Yenagoa Judicial Division stolen the sum of N9m”.
On the third count, the suspects were said to have “on or about August 10, 2011 at Yenagoa, within Yenagoa Judicial Division stolen the sum of N5.7m”.
Tonye and Charles were alleged to have committed the offence using accounts of two commercial banks.
However, when their pleas were taken, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the offences.
Justice Abiri, therefore, adjourned the matter until March 28, 2014 for further hearing.
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