Henrietta Okojie, another employee of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), was on Friday, June 14, 2024, arraigned before a federal high court in Abuja in connection with an alleged ₦1.85 billion fraud.
The four-count charges against Okojie were brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The charges alleged that Okojie, under the pretext of project supervision, received ₦342 million in various tranches.
Created by the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2006, REA is a Nigerian agency that helps facilitate the provision of affordable power supply for residential, commercial, industrial, and social activities in rural and peri-urban areas of the country.
Okojie is among four REA officials – Usman Kwakwa, Umar Laraye, and Emmanuel Titus – charged by the ICPC for their involvement in the alleged fraud. Earlier, on June 6, Kwakwa, was arraigned for allegedly siphoning ₦298 million through the agency’s payment platform.
On June 6, the court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Laraye, Titus, and Okojie after they failed to appear. Following a motion by ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha, the court set June 13 for the arraignment of Laraye and Titus and June 14 for Okojie.
Laraye and Titus were arraigned on June 13 on separate four-count charges and were remanded in prison pending their bail hearings.
During Friday’s court session, Akponimisingha requested the court to vacate the arrest warrant against Okojie since she was present. Presiding Judge Emeka Nwite agreed and lifted the warrant.
Okojie pleaded not guilty to all four charges. Akponimisingha applied for a trial date, while Okojie’s lawyer, Ishiaku Garba, informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served on June 11.
Akponimisingha acknowledged receipt of the application on Tuesday but requested more time to respond to ensure a fair hearing. The judge granted the request and adjourned the case to June 20.
Judge Nwite ordered Okojie to be remanded in the Suleja Correctional Centre until her bail hearing.