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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has arraigned a 51-year-old Police Prosecutor, Ambrose Okonkwo, before Justice A.O. Onovo of Enugu State High Court for demanding and collecting a bribe of N30,000.
The accused person, a Senior Inspector of Police attached to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Awgu in Enugu State had allegedly been soliciting for bribe in order to “facilitate” his victim’s cases in court.
However, luck ran out on him when one of the victims reported the matter to ICPC and was given marked money to give him. He was arrested in a sting operation and taken into ICPC custody on 1st August, 2014 immediately after he had collected the marked money.
Following the conclusion of investigation, the accused who has put in over 32 years of service as a police prosecutor was charged to court on three counts bordering on bribery and gratification. His action contravenes Sections 17 and 18 and is punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
After the charges preferred against him were read out to him, Inspector Okonkwo, pleaded not guilty to all of them, and the defense counsel, Mr. Anya Ibekwe, sought the relief of the court to grant his client bail.
He was granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with a surety and two passport photographs each of both the surety and him. The case has been adjourned to 6th May 2016 for hearing.
Since its inception in the year 2000, ICPC has arraigned many public servants including judges, magistrates, directors, security operatives, law enforcement agents, etc who were caught in sting operations after demanding and collecting bribes. A sizeable number of such accused persons have been convicted and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.
