Hembe, Azubuogu ask court to free them
MAY 1, 2013
Chairman, House Committee on Capital, Herman Hembe and his deputy, Chris Azubogu have told an Abuja High Court that they have no case to answer.
The two suspects allegedly converted to their own use the sum of $4,095 each, about N600,000 given to them by the Security and Exchange Commission as traveling allowance to a conference in Dominican Republic in October, 2011.
They were alleged to have failed to attend the conference and did not return the allowance.
The offence according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, is contrary to section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
On Tuesday, they told Justice Peter Kekemeke that the charge did not disclose any offence against them.
Their lawyers, Joe Okutepa, SAN, and Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, for the 1st and 2nd accused persons respectively, while arguing the no-case submission, stated that given the evidence by the prosecution, the accused persons did not need to defend themselves.
Okutepa said Hembe embarked on the journey and asked why he should be punished for a trip he embarked upon.
He also argued that non utilisation of estacode by a public officer was a mere civil misconduct and not a criminal matter.
Okutepa stated that if there was anyone who should be charged, it should have been the Director General of SEC, Aruma Oteh.
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