EFCC arraigns Comptroller of Prisons over exhibit sale

 

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday arraigned a Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, Wure Wisdom Diete, and a Senior Inspector, Peter Ayamede, for selling a N4.2m Automotive Gas Oil exhibit in their custody.

They were arraigned before Justice C.O Ogisi of the Delta State High Court, Asaba on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

The two accused persons who were attached to Ogwashi-Uku Prison, Delta State, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

A statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren said the duo allegedly tampered with a forfeited exhibit left for safe-keeping in the prison.

 “The exhibit in question  is 27, 200 litres of Automotive Gas Oil valued at about N4, 020,000.00  loaded in a truck with registration number Enugu XN 789 ENU, and forfeited to the Federal Government in a case decided by Justice C.M.A Olatoregun- Ishola of the Federal High Court, Asaba.

“Investigations revealed that the petroleum product was siphoned and replaced with water.  Deputy Comptroller Diete allegedly authorised the illegal sale of the products,” the commission said.

Before adjourning to November 12, 2013, Justice Ogisi who refused oral bail application by their counsel, C.O. Egwuenu, directed him to file a formal bail application.

One of the counts in the charge read,  “that you Wure Wisdom Diete and Ayamede Peter while being a Deputy Comptroller of Prisons in charge of Ogwashi-Uku prison a Senior Inspector of Prisons at Ogwashi-Uku respectively on or about April 2012 at Ogwashi-Uku in the Ogwashi-Uku Judicial Division did conspire with each other to commit felony to wit: stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 Section of the Criminal Code Law CAP C21 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2006.”