The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has brought charges against Mr. Awuawe Terwase Clement, the former Registrar of the Benue State School of Health Technology in Agasha, for an alleged admission scam involving N4.4 million.
On Tuesday, Mr. Clement appeared before Justice Egbe Joshua Raphael at the Federal High Court 2 in Makurdi. He is accused of collecting N4,466,500 from unsuspecting candidates seeking admission into the school after the deadline for purchasing admission forms had passed.
The ICPC has filed a three-count charge against him, which includes allegations of providing false information to ICPC officials during their investigation. This conduct violates Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000.
The first count states: “That you, AWUAWE TERWASE CLEMENT (male), between 2018 and 2019, in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, while serving as a Public Officer in your role as Registrar of the School of Health Technology, Agasha, improperly profited by collecting a total of N4,476,500 (Four Million Four Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand Five Hundred Naira). You continued to sell admission forms to unsuspecting students after the official closure of sales for your personal gain, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
Mr. Clement pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read in court.
Following his plea, his attorney, Mr. Kelvin Iorzenda, requested bail for his client. The prosecution counsel, Mr. T. S. Lorngee, did not oppose the bail application.
Justice Egbe Joshua Raphael subsequently approved the bail request, setting the amount at two million naira (N2,000,000) with one surety of equivalent value. The judge specified that the surety must be a Public or Civil Servant at either the Federal or State level. Furthermore, the surety must provide photocopies of their appointment letter and most recent promotion, along with an identity card, passport photographs, and an affidavit confirming their means and address.
The case has been adjourned until December 12, 2024, for further proceedings.
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