From James Ojo, Abuja
Former salary officer with the Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA), Mr. Monday Isiorh Okoh, who enriched himself in a corrupt manner, has been sentenced to 35 years imprisonment.
He was accused of mismanaging the agency’s N2.5 million by operating multiple bank accounts
Okon was dragged before Justice E. Edigin of High Court 3, Benin City, Edo State, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The commission, in a 12-count charge, accused the convict of using his position to corruptly enrich himself thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and punishable under the same section.
ICPC’s counsel, Peter Malan, told the court that Okoh committed the offence between 2006 and 2007 by paying himself monthly salaries from the coffers of BORBDA through multiple bank accounts in First Bank, United Bank for Africa and a community bank.
He was said to have perpetrated the crime in collaboration with Enudi Lazarus, a cashier in the agency, who was also charged to court by the commission but was acquitted by Justice Edigin.
Okoh was found guilty of committing the offence and sentenced to 35 years imprisonment without an option of fine by the trial judge
