FRAUD: Enugu Psychiatric Hospital Staff Docked Over Alleged N14m Job Scam

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Tuesday, February 20th, 2018

From Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – A senior staff of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Mrs. Stella Achara has been arraigned before an Enugu State High Court over alleged 14 million naira job scam.

The suspect, who is the principal secretary to the Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Jojo Onwukwe was docked on Monday before Hon. Justice C. O. Ajah of Enugu High Court for advanced fee fraud.

In the charge No. E/197C/2017, the police accused Achara of defrauding job seekers in the hospital to the tune of N14m.

The charge, read thus:

“Stella Achara in or about the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 at Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu in the Enugu Judicial Division did by false pretences and with intent to defraud, obtain from one Nwatarah Hope “f”, Stella Egotanwa “f”, Ogbe Onyinye “f”, Nwufo Ifeoma “f” Aforka Clementina “f”, Ikemefuna Ebonyi “m”, Stella Onyeji “f” Mbah Loveth Ifeoma “f”, Okoh Perpetua “f”, Uche Onyia “f”, Egbo Nonye, Igbokwe Patricia “f” and Nwaizugbe Chioma “f” the total sum of N14 million (fourteen million naira), by falsely pretending that you have power to procure employment for them.

“And that you will employ them as staff of federal neuropsychiatric hospital, New Haven, Enugu, which presentation you knew to be false.”

Her conduct is said to have amounted to “obtaining property by false pretenses contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud related offences act, No 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2006.”

African Examiner reports that when the case came up, the prosecutor, Barr. Damian Njoku-Umeh told the court that he had obtained a nod from the Attorney General of Enugu State, Hon. Miletus Eze, to prosecute the matter.

The defence counsel, Barr. J.I Isieke, did not object, which was consequently admitted as an exhibit in the matter.

Isieke, who had earlier filed a motion for preliminary objection, said he needed time to respond to the counter motion filed by the prosecution.

The judge said he would not allow any unnecessary delay in the case, noting that the judiciary was not taking corruption cases very lightly.

He however, adjourned the case to April 7, 2018 for the defence counsel to move his motion and for possible ruling of the court on whether plea would be taken.

Our correspondent, who was at the court, reports that some of victims of the alleged job scam were in court to witness the proceedings .

Recall that Achara’s ordeal began following multiple reports against her at both the Enugu Area Command and the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police by over 50 job seekers, who claimed that they paid money to her for a job that never came.

Following the development, the police launched investigation, during which they claimed several signed and unsigned appointment letters were recovered from the suspect’s home.

Some of the job seekers, who have been enlisted as prosecution witnesses included, Nwatarah Hope, Nwufor Ifeaoma, Ikemefuna Abonyi, Stella Onyeji, Mbah Loveth, Okoh Perpetua, Uche Onyia, Egbe Nonye, who claimed to have paid the suspect N185,000, N450,000, N600,000, N450,000, N350,000, N250,000, N350,000 and N350,000, respectively.

The matter had since been causing serious problems in the hospital with management allegedly clamping down on several workers perceived to have interest in the matter.

Workers of the hospital are presently observing an indefinite strike which began two weeks ago.