This Day (Lagos)
Lillian Okenwa
3 June 2004
Abuja — The Federal Government yesterday withdrew charges against three former ministers and others being tried for their alleged roles in the $214 million National Identity Card scam.
Former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaji Hussaini Akwanga, former Internal Affairs Minister, the late Chief Sunday Afolabi, former Minister of State (Internal Affairs) Dr. Mohammed Shata, erstwhile National Secretary of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ms Turie Akerele, were facing trial over bribery allegations in the National Identity Card scam.
Niyi Adelagun, a business partner of Sagem France was also standing trial for allegedly giving certain amounts of money to the accused persons.
At the commencement of the hearing at an Abuja High Court, Chief Makanjuola Esan, SAN who represented the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) announced government's decision to withdraw the charges.
Thereafter, Afolabi's counsel asked the court presided by Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi to strike out her client's name from the list of the accused persons since he had died. The request was granted.
Also Chief Chris Uche, SAN who represented Akwanga requested the release of the suspects' international passports, as it was part of the bail conditions. That was also granted.
Akwanga was charged for using his position as then Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs to confer corrupt advantage on his daughters by securing payment of $30,000 from Adelagun for their upkeep in Dublin, Ireland contrary to Section 19 of the ICPC Act.
Nwodo was accused of having collected $113,000 from Adelagun for introducing him to Afolabi, while Shata was said to have received $300,000 from Adelagun to support Sagem in the implementation of the National Identity Card project.
Meanwhile, Akerele is facing trial for the alleged receipt of $800,000 from Adelagun for using her position as Permanent Secretary in the Internal Affairs Ministry to ensure that Sagem got the Identity Card project in contravention of the ICPC law.
The suspects were arrested during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja early this year. Shortly after their arrest they were arraigned for trial while Akwanga was relieved of his appointment in the cabinet. When the case first came up for hearing they were released on bail and their passports impounded.
Afolabi took ill shortly after and did not recover till his death last month.
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