A Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Mrs Nkem Mba, has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for her alleged involvement in some fraudulent activities.
Mba was arraigned on three-count bordering on abuse of office and corrupt demand of gratification by a public officer. She however pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Justice Leteem Nyordee of the Federal High Court 12, Port Harcourt.
In one of the charges, the Deputy Chief Registrar was accused of receiving a kickback of N500,000 through her bank account from the purchase of Automotive Gas Oil, popularly known as diesel, and other products.
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Mba countered this by saying that the money was her two per cent entitlement according to Order 16 of the Admiralty Jurisdiction (Procedure Rule) 2011.
Her counsel, S. Somiari pleaded with the court to grant her bail on liberal terms, and the application was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Agada Akogwu.
Justice Leteem Nyordee who ruled on the bail application, admitted her to bail in the sum of N500,000 with a surety who must have landed property in Port Harcourt.
Before adjourning the case to July 26, 2022, Nyordee ruled that the accused must deposit her international passport with the Registrar.
