The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Christiana Goka, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on charges of misappropriating public funds totalling N5,398,656.
The charges were brought before J.A. Aina, Justice of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kwali, Abuja.
The ICPC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Demola Bakare, confirmed that Goka faced a five-count charge, including misappropriation of funds and providing false statements.
Goka, who once served as the Head of the Department of Research Monitoring Information System at the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), allegedly diverted N5,164,656 from funds designated for a management retreat that never took place.
“The retreat, planned for Dutse, Jigawa State, in 2017, was reportedly abandoned, but the allocated funds were allegedly mismanaged”, the statement reads.
According to one of the charges, Goka, while serving conferred a corrupt advantage upon herself by diverting the sum of N5,164,656 out of the total N5,398,656 budgeted for the retreat.
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The charge states that her actions violate Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The ICPC further alleged that Goka gave false information during an investigation, denying the receipt of N1,000,000 in cash returned to her by Bassey Ikpeme on the directive of the late Director General of DTCA, Abduljalil Suleiman.
She allegedly stated that the money was never returned, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
According to ICPC, the false statement charge is based on Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, which criminalizes the provision of false information to investigators.
The trial commenced on March 27, 2025, with the prosecution counsel, David Nwaze, presenting two witnesses who gave their testimonies and were cross-examined.
During the court proceedings, Goka pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Aina (Justice) allowed the accused to continue on her earlier administrative bail terms.
“The bail conditions require her to produce a surety employed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Grade Level 15 or higher and residing in Abuja.
“The surety must provide a letter of appointment, proof of the last promotion, an identity card, and a passport photograph”, the statement added.
