$4,095 scam: EFCC insists Hembe, Azubogu have case to answer

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has told a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja and presided over by Justice Peter Kekemeke to disregard the no-case submission by Hon. Herman Hembe, former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market, and his deputy, Hon. Chris Azubogu, insisting that the federal lawmakers have a case to answer in the $4,095 estacode scam.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, EFCC’s counsel, Chile Okoroma, observed that the arguments canvassed by defence counsel in support of their applications are immaterial at this point.
Okoroma said that the fundamental issue remains that a prima facie case have been established against the defendants to warrant explanation from them before the court.
He said from available indications, the accused were deceptive, which amounts to dishonesty and punishable under the relevant laws.
He therefore urged the court to refuse the application.
Earlier, counsel to the accused persons, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, and Onyenchi Ikpeazu, SAN, while moving their separate motions for a no case submission, contended that estacode is money meant for a public servant who travels overseas.
They said once the money is approved and the officer embarks on the journey, the money becomes his.
The duo of Hembe and Azubogu are being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly converting the sum of $4,095 paid to them as estacode for a conference in the Dominican Republic, which they failed to attend, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 308 of the Penal Code Act Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1990.
After listening to arguments from both sides, the presiding judge adjourned ruling to June 19, 2013.