ICPC arraigns suspended REA ED, one other over N15m contract fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mr Netufo Olaniyi Alaba, the suspended Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and Mr Hassan Arivi Saddiq, Managing Director of Hassino Group Limited, for their alleged involvement in a ₦15 million contract fraud.

Netufo Alaba, the first defendant, and Hassan Saddiq, the second defendant, appeared on Wednesday before Justice Celestine Obinna of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama Abuja, on four and three-count charges, respectively, bordering on currying favour and conferring unfair advantage through office, amongst other corruption charges.

It would be recalled that the Presidency had last year approved the indefinite suspension of certain senior figures at REA, including Mr Alaba, over a ₦1.2 billion fraud.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Netufo Olaniyi Alaba, between September and October 2022 or thereabouts at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, whilst being Executive Director of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), did use your office to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by receiving the sum of ₦15m from Hassan Arivi Saddiq to show favour to the said Hassan Arivi Saddiq, that is, facilitating contract jobs/businesses for him at the Federal Ministry of Power and other organisations, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

Another charge reads: “That you, Hassan Arivi Saddiq, between September and October 2022 or thereabouts at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, whilst being MD of Hassino Group Limited, did corruptly give the sum of ₦10,000,000 to Netufo Olaniyi Alaba via his First Bank Account No: 2005009459 on account of showing you favour, that is, facilitating contract jobs/businesses at the Federal Ministry of Power and other organisations, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 9 (a) and punishable under section 9 (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

Mr Alaba and Mr Saddiq pleaded not guilty to all charges. Counsel to both defendants, Myson N. and S. Yusuf, applied to the court to grant bail to their clients on liberal terms, seeing “as they did not pose any flight risks and were capable of providing credible sureties.”

While ICPC’s Counsel, Abdulkareem Sulaiman, did not oppose their bail applications, he implored the court to grant bail under stringent conditions to ensure that no attempt to slow the judicial process was made by the defendants.

Justice Obinna set bail at ₦50 million each, provided they produced a credible surety who is a civil servant not below Grade Level 10 with a verifiable address within the FCT High Court’s jurisdiction.

The presiding judge subsequently adjourned the case to 4th April 2025 for further hearing, as contained in a statement signed by Demola Bakare, fsi, Director of Public Enlightenment and Education/Spokesperson for the Commission, made available to journalists on Thursday.

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