Lecturer Arraigned For Alleged Misappropriation Of N19m PhD Funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Friday, arraigned a lecturer at Nasarawa State University, Keffi for alleged diversion of funds

The suspect, Moses Adoga was arraigned at Nasarawa State High Court, sitting in Lafia, the capital city of Nasarawa State.

According to the statement issued by the spokesperson of EFCC, Makurdi Zonal Office, Mrs Okeanu Nnwanyinma, the suspect was said to have obtained a Tertiary Education Trust Funds to the tune of N19m for his PhD programme in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Bangor University, United Kingdom but diverted the fund to personal use.

Parts of the statement read, “A count charge, that you Moses Peter Adoga sometime in 2011 in Keffi within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court being entrusted with the sum of N19,765,200 (Nineteen Million Seven Hundred and Sixty Five Thousand Two Hundred Naira) from Tertiary Education Trust Fund paid into your United Bank for Africa account through Nassarawa State University Diamond Bank Account for the purpose of Academic staff training and development at Bangor University in the United Kingdom; did dishonestly convert same to your own use and thereby committed a Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to section 311 and punishable under section 312 of Penal Code Laws”.

“He pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge.

“The prosecution counsel, Mary Onoja prayed for a date for the commencement of trial.”

The counsel also prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the hearing of his bail application.

“However, the defense counsel, S. K. Sheltu orally applied for bail for his client.

“The trial judge, Justice Simon O. Aboki granted the defendant bail in the sum of two million Naira with two sureties in like sum,” the statement concluded.

The court asked the defendant to surrender his international passport to the registrar of the Court.

The case was adjourned till July 10, 2019, for the commencement of trial.