Mr Charles Nkwueke, a prosecution witness on Friday told an FCT High court, Apo, that Abel Friday, a Chief Clerical Officer in the Ministry of Interior, collected N275,000 in order to get his wife a job.
Nkwueke made the allegation while testifying in the three-count charge fraud against Friday by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Ms Efanga Imaobong informed the court that based on a petition written by Nkwueke, an investigation was opened against the defendant.
Nkwueke reported that on November 27 2015, he met Friday who told him that he was a Senior Staff of the Ministry of Interior and he could help his wife get into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
He further said that Friday told him that N275,000 would be needed to ” fast-track” the employment process.
He also reported that on the day he met Friday, he gave him N150,000 cash after which a written evidence of payment was done and signed by both him and Friday.
Nkwueke further stated that on November 30, 2015, he deposited N25,000 into the UBA account of Friday when he called for money.
He also said that on December 4, 2015, he transferred the balance of N100,000 to Friday’s UBA account through the Electronic Transfer Request Form.
Nkwueke then said that after making the payments, Friday began to ignore his calls and messages, especially after he called to confront him when Civil Defence started a training exercise and his wife was not called.
“Since then, I had been calling and he wasn’t taking my calls anymore “ he said.
He also said that after ICPC invited him to identify Friday and make a statement. Friday than called him that he would like to refund him.
“I received a call from Abel saying that he wished to meet up to pay me all the money I gave to him.
“So we fixed an appointment to meet on June 28,2017 at Asokoro Shopping Mall.
“On June 28, he brought a UBA cheque of N290,000 in my name dated July 25, 2017. He told me that the N15,000 he added to the money was to offset the phone calls and transportation to ICPC.
“After that, he told me to present the cheque on August 24, 2017 and I did that.
“The bank returned the cheque because the account was not operational,” he said.
The witness also said that prior to the cheque being presented in August, Friday called him, begging him not to appear in court.
Simon Aka, counsel for the defence, prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable him prepare for cross-examination.
Justice Silvanus Oriji then adjourned the case until June 5 for further hearing.
