EFCC ARRAIGNS A CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR & 6 OTHERS TODAY FOR ALLEGED N85 MILLION FRAUD.{PHOTOS}.

                                            The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC,on Monday April 3,2017 arraigned five persons and two companies before Justice I.E Ekwo of the Federal High Court,Calabar,Cross Rivers State on a five count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy,bid_rigging,abuse of office and breach of due process contrary to the procurement Acts of 2007.The defendants are Professor Thomas U. Agan,Chief Medical Director,University of Calabar Teaching Hospital,Francis I.Otu,chief Administrative Officer and head,Legal Services of the same hospital.Others are Okocha Anthony,Emmanuel Etta Nkim,Anchor Industrial & Construction Services Nigeria Limited and Basemark Energy Nigeria Limited.The trio of Professor Agan,Offor and Otu were said to have used their position to corruptly influence the award of contract t the other four accused persons.The contract was executed through inflated cost and so failed to follow due process with the accused persons corruptly enriching themselves to the tune of N85,062,000.00 thereby contravening the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007.When the charge was read to the defendants,they all pleaded not guilty.In view of their please,the prosecution counsel,Kayode Oni asked to court to remand the defendants in prison custody and to fix a date for trial.However,attempt by the defence counsel,Mba Ukwenyo,Senior Advocate of Nigeria,SAN,to move an oral application for bail for his clients was refused by the judge who ordered that a formal application by filed.Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to May 8,9,10,11 and 12 for trial.More photos below.