By Aplefe Ojong
The Chief Medical Director CMD of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Dr. Thomas U. Agan, and four of his colleagues were Monday remanded at the Afokang Prison having failed to secure bail from the Federal High Court in Calabar.
Dr. Agan, Offor Jonah Offor, Francis Otu, Okocha Anthony, Emmanuel Etta Nkim, Anchor Industrial and Construction Services Nigeria Limited and Basemark Energy Limited were arraigned at the Federal High Court in Calabar by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, for alleged fraudulent practices and abuse of office among others.
CrossRiverWatch gathered that Dr. Agan and his colleagues were picked up by EFCC operatives since Friday.
In a five-count charge which was obtained by CrossRiverWatch, the EFCC accused the Defendants of sundry criminal breaches of the Public Procurement Act 2007 including abuse of their official positions to award contracts in a fraudulent, collusive and corrupt manner .
The charges include:
“That you, Professor Thomas U. Agan as Chief Medical Director, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Offor Jonah Offor, as Head of Works and Engineering University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Francis I. Otu as Chief Administrative Officer and Head of Legal Services University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Okocha Anthony being the alter-ego of Anchor Industrial and Constructing Services Nigeria Limited, Emmanuel Etta Nkim being the alter-ego of Basemark Energy Nigeria Limited, Anchor Industrial and Construction Services Nigeria Limited and Basemark Energy Nigeria Limited; some time in the month of October, 2015 in Calabar, Cross River State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to bid-rig for the purchase of one Advanced Life Support Ambulance Vehicle and one Toyota Bus 30-seater to Messrs Basemark Energy Nigeria Limited and Anchor Industrial and Construction Services Limited contrary to Section 58(4) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007 and thereby committed an office punishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act.
“That you, Professor Thomas U. Agan, as Chief Medical Director University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Offor Jonah Offor, as Head of Works and Engineering University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Francis I. Otu as Chief Administrative Officer and Head of Legal Services University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Okocha Anthony being the alter-ego of Basemark Energy Nigeria Limited, sometime in the month of October 2015 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did abuse your official position to award contract in a fraudulent, collusive and corrupt manner contrary to Section 58(4)(e) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 Act and punishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act.
“That you, Professor Thomas U. Agan as Chief Medical Director University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Offor Jonah Offor, as Head of Works and Engineering University Teaching Hospital, Francis I. Otu as Chief Administrative Officer and Head of Legal Services University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, sometime in the month of October, 2015 in Calabar, Cross River State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did abuse your official position to award contract in a fraudulent, collusive and corrupt manner and thereby committed an offence, contrary to section 58(4)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 Act and punishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act.
“That you, Okocha Anthony, being the alter-ego of Anchor Industrial and Construction Services Nigeria Limited, sometime in the month of October 2015 in Calabar, Cross River State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did obtain unfair advantage by enriching yourself when you fraudulently procured the supply of one Toyota Coaster bus 30 seater and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 58(4)(c) of the Public Procurement Act and punishable under Section 58(6) of the same Act.
“That you, Emmanuel Etta Nkim being the alter-ego of Basemark Energy Nigeria Limited, sometime in the month of October 2015, in Calabar, Cross River State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did obtain unfair advantage by enriching yourself when you fraudulent procured the supply of one Advance Life Support Ambulance and thereby committed an offence, contrary to section 58(4)(c) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 Act and punishable under Section 58(6) of the same Act.”
Counsel to the EFCC, tendered 26 exhibits to the court while all the Defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Mba Okweni SAN, asked the court to stand down the matter to enable him file a formal application and also made an oral application for bail for the accused which the court declined.
Counsel to the EFCC, Barrister Oni, had earlier objected to the oral bail application insisting that it should be written so that they can respond to it accordingly.
Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter to May 8, 9, and 10 for accelerated hearing and ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison custody.
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