The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has charged the former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Istifanus Mwanswat, to court for alleged corruption.
Mr. Mwanswat is being charged before Justice Christian Dabup of the Plateau State High Court 5, Jos for alleged conspiracy and abuse of office.
Also charged are seven other former state assembly members from the state including Joyce Ramnap, Emmanuel Goar and Joe Dawan.
Others are Dio Lamul, Michael Jubrin, John Clark Dabwan and Dalyop Mancha.
The former lawmakers are standing trial for allegedly diverting N40 million belonging to the assembly for their personal use.
While arraigning the accused persons, the prosecuting counsel for ICPC, Isaac Jiya, told the judge sometime in 2011, Mr. Mwansat allegedly used the sum of N6 million out of the assembly’s fund for his personal purposes.
Mr. Jiya argued the action constituted an offence which is contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Mr. Jiya also told the judge that by conspiring with the former speaker, the second accused person, Mrs. Ramnap also diverted the sum of N 4.4million for her personal use, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 26 and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The former speaker was also alleged to have aided four former lawmakers to divert the sum of N4.4 million each for their personal purposes while two others allegedly diverted N2.4million.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them and applied for bail through their counsel, S.T Panwal and J.D Morolayo, respectively.
Thereafter, the judge granted each accused person bail in the sum of N500, 000 and a surety residing within the jurisdiction of the court or an original evidence of ownership of a landed property to be handed over to the court.
The case was adjourned to 6th and 7th March 2018 for the commencement of hearing.
