Spread the word
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of a former Principal Stock Verifier at the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Williams Oluwole, for issuing a false stock verification certificate that facilitated the payment of ₦29.9 million for pharmaceutical products that had not been supplied at the time the certificate was issued.
A press statement by the Commission’s Head, Media and Public Communications, John Odey, Thursday in Abuja, noted that Oluwole was convicted on Tuesday by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, following his prosecution by the Commission on a two-count charge bordering on knowingly furnishing false statements in the discharge of his official duties.
The convict, who served as principal stock verifier at the Federal Ministry of Health, was accused of issuing a stock verification certificate of completion in favour of Mubaraq Pharmacy Limited in May 2015, falsely certifying that certain pharmaceutical products had been supplied when the items had yet to arrive in Nigeria.
During the trial, the prosecution established that Oluwole issued Stock Verification Certificate of Completion No. CA 0329, which facilitated the payment of ₦29,996,120.00 (Twenty-nine million, nine hundred and ninety-six thousand, one hundred and twenty naira) to Mubaraq Pharmacy Limited for the purported supply of 5,113 Ribavirin injections and 5,681 Globavirin tablets.
The court held that the pharmaceutical products covered by the certificate had not been supplied at the time the convict certified their receipt, thereby creating a false impression that the contractor had fulfilled its contractual obligations and was entitled to payment.
In count one of charge no. CR/94/2017, the Commission accused Oluwole of knowingly furnishing a false statement in his capacity as Principal Stock Verifier at the Federal Ministry of Health by issuing the certificate upon which payment was made for the undelivered pharmaceutical products.
The offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The second count bordered on making a false statement to the then Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, contrary to Section 25(1)(a) of the same Act.
In prosecuting the case, the ICPC, through its counsel, N. J. Onwuka, Esq., who appeared alongside P. N. Emeka, Esq., presented its case against the defendant, who was represented by Abubakar Adamu, Esq.
Delivering judgment, Justice Halilu found Oluwole guilty and sentenced him to seven years’ in prison on Count One.
The court also imposed a fine of ₦100,000 on count two. This is as the trial judge further directed that the convict serve his prison sentence at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
Odey said the conviction underscored the criminal consequences of falsifying official records and certification documents in public procurement processes, particularly where such documents, and accountability in the management of public resources.
Spread the word