Monarch, brother dragged to court for embezzling community funds

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has dragged the traditional ruler of Ipupe Community in Ubalaka Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, Eze Chima Bolo Ubiaru, and his brother, Iyke Patrick Ubiaru, a soldier, before an Abia State High Court sitting in Umuahia for alleged misappropriation of N40 million belonging to the community.
The Federal Government had through the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited released N60 million to the Community as compensation for the relocation of shrines in the sacred forest of Okota, Ipupe Community.
Eze Ubiaru and his brother, Patrick, were alleged to have diverted N40 million out of the N60 million meant for the whole community into their private use contrary to and punishable under Sections 19 and 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Members of the Ipupe Development Union had in a petition forwarded to the ICPC said that Eze Ubiaru, a retired Captain in the Nigerian Army, acted fraudulently by going to the NIPP alone and deceiving the community as to how much was paid.
In the petition, it was alleged that Eze Ubiaru also fraudulently lodged the N60 million into his personal account unilaterally and that he conspired with his brother, the Palace Secretary, to change the name of the Community to Ajiukwu account.
In the charge sheet filed by the ICPC Counsel, Raheem Adeshina, Eze Ubiaru and his brother were alleged to have conferred corrupt advantage upon themselves by diverting N40 million belonging to the community for their personal use.
ICPC averred that the accused committed the offence between January 2011 and March 2012.
Eze Ubiaru and his brother were further alleged to have stolen N40 million out of the N60 million paid to Ipupe Community by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited to buy some hectares of land in the Community.
This alleged stealing of public funds, the ICPC Counsel said, was contrary to Section 383(1) and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Patrick Ubiaru was also charged of aiding his brother, the Eze, by making false entry, with intent to conceal a crime contrary to Section 15(a) and punishable under Section 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
He was specifically accused of falsifying the minutes of the meeting of Expanded Eze in the Council held on March 3, 2011.
The presiding judge, Justice A.U. Kalu, after listening to the submissions of counsels for ICPC and the accused persons, adjourned the matter till April 16 and 17, 2014 for hearing.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge preferred against them.
They were granted bail.