The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned the suspended Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mr Netufo Olaniyi Alaba, and Mr Hassan Arivi Saddiq, Managing Director, Hassino Group Limited have been arraigned in court for their alleged involvement in a N15 million contract fraud.
Mr Alaba, the first defendant, and Mr Saddiq, the second defendant, appeared before Justice Celestine Obinna of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama Abuja.
They were arraigned on four and three-count charges, respectively, bordering on carrying favour and conferring unfair advantage through office, among other corruption charges.
The charge sheets reads: “That you, Netufo Olaniyi Alaba between September and October, 2022 or thereabouts at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja whilst being Executive Director of Rural Electrification Agency (REA) did use your office to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by receiving the sum of (15,000,000) Fifteen Million Naira from Hassan Arivi Saddiq to show favour to the said Hassan Arivi Saddiq that is facilitating contract jobs/businesses for him at the Federal Ministry of Power and other Organizations and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
“That you Hassan Arivi Saddiq (m) between September and Octoben, 2022 or thereabouts at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja whilst being MD Hassino Group Limited did corruptly give the sum of Ten Million Naira to Netufo Olaniyi Alaba vide his First Bank Account No: 2005009459 on account of showing you favour that is facilitating contract jobs/businesses at the Federal Ministry of Power and other Organization and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 9 (a) an punishable under section 9 (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Relate Offences Act, 2000.”
The suspects pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Counsel to both defendants, Myson N and S. Yusuf, applied to the court to grant bail to their client on liberal terms, “as they did not pose any flight risks and were capable of providing credible sureties.”
Counsel to ICPC, Abdulkareem Sulaiman, did not oppose their bail applications; however implored the court to grant bail under stringent conditions to ensure that no attempt to slow the judicial process was made by the defendants.
Justice Obinna, before adjourning the case to April 4, 2025, for further hearing, granted the bail request and set the bail at N50 million each, provided they produced a credible surety who is a civil servant not below Grade Level 10 with a verifiable address within the FCT High Court’s jurisdiction.
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