FORMER Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Vincent Ogbulafor, Thursday admitted collecting N2 million from Emeka Ebilah, a co-accused person in a case filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
Ogbulafor, however, said the money was meant for his campaign to be the ruling party’s National Secretary, a post he held till he became the national chairman of Nigeria’s ruling party.
The ICPC is prosecuting Ogbulafor, who is also a former Minister of Special Duties; and two others: Emeka Ebilah and Jude Nwokoro, on a 17-count charge of conspiracy and award of fictitious contracts valued N107 million.
The offence if proven contravenes Section 19 of the ICPC Act, 2000.
The crime: An ICPC investigator had in November 2012 told the court that Ogbulafor, colluded with Ebilah, to forge documents in order to receive N107 million from the Federal Government.
Basil Momodu told the court in November last year that Ebilah forged documents certifying that three fake companies executed contracts worth N107 million.
The ICPC investigator, a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Ogbulafor, told the court that the fake companies were included in the list of contractors being owed money by the Federal Government.
The commission alleged that Ogbulafor, while in office as the Minister of Special Duties in 2001, colluded with Ebilah to float three fictitious companies — Chekwas International Nigeria Ltd, Henrichko Nig Ltd and D.H.L. Consultants — with which they perpetrated the fraud.
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