Date: 2017-10-03

Barely two months after he was dropped as a nominee into the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a former Chairman of the Governing Council of Kwara State Polytechnic, Dr. Saadu Ayinla Alanamu, has been arraigned in court for allegedly collecting N5million bribe from a contractor.

Alanamu was arraigned alongside the Executive Director of Namylas Nigeria Limited, Salman Sulaiman.

The two suspects are standing trial on eight -count of charge of bribery and other related crimes before Justice Mahmud Abdul Gafar of the Kwara State High Court 7, Ilorin.

A statement issued by the Spokesperson for ICPC, Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, said Alanamu, who was also the Chairman of the Kwara State Polytechnic Tenders Board, allegedly collected N5million bribe from a contractor, Salman Sulaiman, as kickback for the award of a contract.

The statement said: "The counsel to ICPC, Sunny Ezeana, told the court that Dr. Alanamu received the money through his First Bank account on 11th February, 2015 from Namylas Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Sulaiman who is also his friend.

"The court heard that Alanamu ensured that the contract for the construction and furnishing of an auditorium in Kwara State Polytechnic, at the cost of N182, 369, 625.00, was awarded to Namylas Nigeria Limited, even when it was found that the company was not qualified to execute the contract.

"ICPC's investigation into the petition had revealed strong evidence of collusion, bid rigging and corrupt practices against Namylas Nigeria Limited in the bid process.

"The company used falsified, forged and doctored PENCOM Compliance Certificate, Tax Clearance Certificate and ITF Certificate of Compliance to submit its bid during the bidding process.

"Sulaiman on his part, was accused of bribing a government official when he paid N5 million through a Guarantee Trust Bank account to Alanamu, as a reward for the award of contract to his company, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 9(1) (a) and punishable under Section 9(1) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

"Their offences are also in violation of Sections 8 (1) (a), 10(a) (i), 18 (b), 19 and 22(1) (a) (i) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the aforementioned sections.

"The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.

"The trial judge, Justice Abdul Gafar then granted them bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum each; and that one of the sureties for each of them must have a landed property in Ilorin.

"The matter was then adjourned to 12th October, 2017 for pre-trial hearing in line with Section 3 of the Kwara State High Court Practice Direction, 2013, after which a new date for trial would be set."

Following petitions, the Presidency had on August 6 dropped Alanamu and Maimuna Aliyu as board members of ICPC.

A tweet by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande said: "We are stepping down two of the new ICPC board nominees who have ongoing investigation issues with the Commission as this presents a conflict.

"While existence of allegations or petitions against someone shouldn't necessarily disqualify them from considerations for appointments, this case presents a peculiarity as we have confirmed that the agency in which they are to serve is indeed investigating the two of them.

"A basic check showed no court convictions against them; but when weighty petitions come up, this administration will always do the right thing."