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 naira (₦15,000,000) contract fraud.
Mr. Alaba, the first defendant, and Mr. Saddiq, the second defendant, appeared on Wednesday before Justice Celestine Obinna of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a four- and three-count charge, respectively, bordering on currying favor and conferring unfair advantage through office, among 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 read: “That you, Netufo Olaniyi Alaba, between September and October 2022 or thereabouts, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, whilst being Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), did use your office to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by receiving the sum of fifteen million naira (₦15,000,000) from Hassan Arivi Saddiq to show favor to the said Hassan Arivi Saddiq, that is, facilitating contract jobs/businesses for him at the Federal Ministry of Power and other organizations, 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 read: “That you, Hassan Arivi Saddiq (m), between September and October 2022 or thereabouts, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, whilst being Managing Director of Hassino Group Limited, did corruptly give the sum of ten million naira (₦10,000,000) to Netufo Olaniyi Alaba via his First Bank Account No: 2005009459 on account of showing you favor, that is, facilitating contract jobs/businesses at the Federal Ministry of Power and other organizations, 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, stating that they did not pose any flight risk and were capable of providing credible sureties.
While ICPC’s counsel, Abdulkareem Sulaiman, did not oppose their bail applications, he, however, implored the court to grant bail under stringent conditions to ensure that no attempt was made by the defendants to slow the judicial process.
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 the 4th of April, 2025, for further hearing.
