N97.3m fraud: Convicted Ex-Perm Sec, Clement Illoh, jailed 12 years

*Forfeits N97.3m, $139,575.50, £10,121.52 to FG

Glory Ebomah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 5, 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Clement Illoh, to 12 years imprisonment before Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Illoh was prosecuted by the EFCC on three counts bordering non-declaration of assets to the tune of N97.3m.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Dr Illoh Onubuogo Clement, on the 19th day of April 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make full disclosure of your assets to wit: the sum of N97, 300, 613. 44 (Ninety-Seven Million, Three Hundred Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirteen Naira, Forty-Four Kobo), which sum you warehoused in Account No 3033750243 domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria Ltd in your name and you, therefore, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 27(3) (C) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.”

During today’s proceedings, the prosecution counsel, during cross-examination of the defendant, revealed that Illoh received funds to the tune of N65million from SURE P project contractors, which was domiciled in his personal First Bank account no:3033750243.

In the course of proceedings, the defence counsel, T.S. Awana, sought the court’s permission to confer with his client.

Thereafter, the defendant, through his counsel, applied to change his “not guilty “plea.

Justice Kuewunmi granted the application and Illoh pleaded “guilty. “

Delivery judgment, Justice Kuewumi held that “I have given due attention to the allocutus of the defendant.

“However, the court will not fail to perform its duty in accordance with the provisions of the law.

“Consequently, the defendant is hereby sentenced to four years in each of the counts and same shall run concurrently from the 10th of October 2019.”

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the sum of N97, 300,613.44, $139,575.50 and £10,121.52 respectively to the Federal Government of Nigeria, being proceeds of unlawful activities.

The EFCC had, on October 3, 2019, secured the conviction and sentencing of Illoh to five years imprisonment over a N14.1m fraud before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.