The Federal Government has arraigned the Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dickson Akor and the Incorporated Trustees of the Corps bordering on alleged conversion of money directly derived from extortion to the tune of about N1.4 billion, in a 90- count criminal charge before Justice John Tsoho of an Abuja Federal High Court.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/45/2017, filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the defendants are further charged for wearing of uniforms and other identification marks contrary to section 24 (1) of the Private Guard Companies Act Cap P30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 32 (1) of the Act.
The defendants were accused of laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity contrary to section 7(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other fraud related Offences Act, Cap A6 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
The Federal Government also accused the defendants of obtaining money by false pretense contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other fraud related Offences Act, Cap A6 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
They were also charged in count 86 for organising and training of members of Peace Corps of Nigeria as a quasi- Military organization contrary to section 6(1)(a) of the Public Order Act, Cap P42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
Count 88 of the charge accused the defendants of unauthorised display of flags contrary to section 7(4)(b) of the Public Order Act, Cap P42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
In count 89, the prosecution accused the defendants of operating as a private guard without licence contrary to section 1(1) of the Private Guard Companies Act Cap P30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 32 (1) of the Act.
After the defendant made his not guilty plea, his counsel, John Ochogo moved his bail application on the grounds that, he had been enjoying administrative bail granted him by the Police.
However, the prosecuting counsel, A. A. Halilu objected to the application on the grounds that, the defendant would interfere with the witnesses, to which the defendant countered, insisting that the witnesses were Police witnesses.
The trial judge, after a 30 minutes break, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N10million, one surety in the sum of N20million who must be resident in Abuja.
The surety must be the owner of a valuable property in Abuja and title of which must be produced to the court’s deputy chief registrar for verification, and a photocopy to be kept with the deputy chief registrar litigation.
The defendant is also expected to deposit his international passport with the court, while he and the surety would provide two recent passport photographs.
It will be recalled that a combined team of Police and Department of State Service (DSS) operatives raided the headquarters of Peace corp, where the commandant and 49 others were arrested and detained leading to a N2billion fundamental right suit against the Attorney –General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector –General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), before his eventual arraignment.
