Pilgrims Board Scribe Arraigned over N69mn Fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arraigned Dr. Jinga Mayo, the Executive Secretary, Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board before Justice Nathan Musa of High Court 1 Yola on a three-count charge for embezzlement.

Dr. Mayo was charged for knowingly furnishing false return of the sum of N69.2 million received by him to pay committee members of the Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Board for 2016 pilgrims operation in Israel. He allegedly did not pay them but returned seemingly duly signed payment vouchers and acknowledgement receipts of the payment by each member of the said committee, contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

The accused was also charged for conferring corrupt advantage upon himself, contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, and also for making false statement to an officer of ICPC contrary to Section 25 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 25 (1) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

When the three charges were read, Mayo pleaded not guilty to any of them. It was on this ground that the prosecuting lawyer, Anas Mohammed Kolo, prayed the court to fix a date for trial.

The defence counsel, J.E Owe, informed the court that he had filed an application for bail before the court.

Justice Nathan Musa, after listening to both counsel gave the accused person bail in the sum of N30 million, with one surety, who must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.