The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC today arraigned one of its officials, David Lohbut, before Justice Mohammed Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, on a three count charge bordering on dishonestly obtaining money and misappropriating funds.
Prosecution Counsel, Offem Uket, sought and obtained leave of the court for the accused person's charge to be read to him and his plea taken.
The accused person, a police seargeant seconded to the EFCC, pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and defense counsel, Ogbukeri Chideibere, applied for bail to which prosecution counsel did not object.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Talba granted the accused person bail in the sum of N5 Million and two sureties in like sum, one who must be at least a level 10 federal civil servant.
Justice Talba further ruled, before adjourning the case to 17th January for commencement of trial, that upon failure to fulfill the bail conditions, the accused person should be remanded in prison custody.
Trouble started for Mr Lohbut when it was discovered that he investigated an unapproved petition and fraudulently converted N3.8 million to his personal use. He was subsequently investigated, and there was overwhelming evidence supporting his culpability for sundry criminal offences and offences against discipline.
He was accordingly subjected to orderly room trial for falsehood and disobedience to lawful order, and dismissed from the services of the Nigeria Police Force with effect from October 26, 2011 for the said offence.
Count One of the Three count charge reads: "That you David Lohbut 'm' between December, 2010 and June 2011 in Abuja, within the Abuja Judicial Division being entrusted with the sum of N2, 000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) by one Olajide J Adesina in your capacity in as an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as refund to one Mr. Eze Valentine in the course of an alleged investigation conducted by you, dishonestly misappropriated the said money to your own use and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 315 of the penal code, Cap. 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990."
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