Ishola Michael, Author at Tribune Online

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mrs Christiana Goka, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on allegations of misappropriating public funds amounting to N5,398,656. Mrs Christiana Goka, who also served as the Head of the Department of Research Monitoring Information System at the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), was brought before Justice J.A. Aina of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kwali, Abuja, on a five-count charge bordering on misappropriation of funds and providing false statements. According to the charges, Mrs Goka allegedly misappropriated N5,164,656 from funds earmarked for a botched management retreat of the Ministry at Dutse, Jigawa State, in 2017. One of the charges reads: “That you, Mrs Christiana Goka 'F', sometime in 2017 or thereabout, being a public officer serving as the Deputy Director and Head of the Department of Research Monitoring Information System at the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did confer a corrupt advantage upon yourself in the sum of N5,164,656.00, which was part of the larger sum of N5,398,656.00 meant for the botched management retreat at Dutse, Jigawa State in 2017, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.” “That you, Mrs Christiana Goka 'F', sometime in 2017 or thereabout, being a public officer serving as the Deputy Director and Head of Department Research Monitoring Information System in the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did make a statement on 18/02/22 to Sado Danjuma, an officer of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, while in the course of exercising his duties of investigation, in which you made a statement to wit—that the sum of N1,000,000.00 returned to you in cash by one Bassey Ikpeme on the instruction of the then Director General of DTCA, Ambassador Abduljalil Suleiman (now late), was false and never happened, which statement, to your knowledge, is false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.” Additionally, Mrs Goka is accused of providing false information to an ICPC investigator, denying the receipt of N1,000,000 in cash, which was reportedly returned to her on the instruction of the then Director General of DTCA, the late Ambassador Abduljalil Suleiman. At the commencement of the trial on 27 March 2025, the Prosecution Counsel, David Nwaze, called two witnesses who testified and were cross-examined. This act constitutes an offence under Section 25(1)(a) and is punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The Court, having previously granted the defendant bail under the same conditions as her administrative bail, allowed her to remain on those terms after she pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read to her. As part of the bail conditions, the defendant must provide a surety who is employed in the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Grade Level 15 or above and resides in Abuja. The surety is required to submit a letter of appointment, proof of last promotion, an identity card, and a passport photograph. Justice J.A. Aina subsequently adjourned the case as stated in a statement signed by Demola Bakare, Director of Public Enlightenment and Education/Spokesperson for the Commission. ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE