EFCC re-arrests labour ministry Permanent Secretary over alleged N10bn SURE-P fraud (Details, pics)

A permanent secretary in the federal ministry of labour and productivity, Dr Clement Illoh Onubuogo, was re-arrested on Wednesday, October 4, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged N10b SURE-P fraud. Onubuogo who was picked up the agency’s operatives at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos was alleged to have shunned an invitation to clear the air over an alleged diversion of N606million SURE-P fund under his watch.

According to the EFCC, Onubuogo converted the funds from the N10billion released by the Federal Government during his supervision of the Subsidy Reinvestment (SURE-P) programme. Onubogo was in court for his trial in a separate charge filed against him by the commission. The perm sec was earlier arraigned for allegedly failing to declare some of his hidden cash assets N97, 300,613.44, $139,575.50 and £10,121.52 which was found in three of his bank accounts. He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi. When the case was called yesterday, no EFCC counsel was present. Onubuogo’s lawyers A. Dada and T. S. Awhana said the defendant was very ill and asked for an adjournment to enable him get treatment. The judge however agreed to adjourn the case as no prosecution was present and in view of the defendant’s health condition.

But as the case was being adjourned, EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo arrived. The defence counsel also returned to complain to the judge that Onubuogo had just been arrested. Onubuogu's lawyer faulted the agency for arresting his client, who he said was already on bail, and denied that his client shunned invitation. But, the counsel to the EFCC said no law stops anyone undergoing trial from being re-arrested for another criminal matter. The judge said having already adjourned the case, there was nothing he could do about the Permanent Secretary being re-arrested in court.