Court orders service of charge on NDDC chief

… Fixes June 21 for Ekere’s arraignment A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday ordered that a charge filed against the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nsima Ekere, be served on him through substituted means. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had last month filed the charge marked: CR/187/18 against Ekere and NDDC. The ICPC accused Ekere and NDDC of obstructing its ongoing investigation into projects executed by the agency. Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, in a ruling, directed ICPC to dispense with personal service and serve the charge on any official in the Legal Department of NDDC at its headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The judge’s ruling was on an application filed by the prosecution lawyer, Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, who complained about the difficulty encountered by the ICPC in its bids to serve the charge on Ekere. “Our officials have gone to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt on many occasions. The 2nd defendant (Ekere) has been evading service. He has refused to attend office,” Akponimisingha said. Justice Adeniyi adjourned the case till June 21 for arraignment.]]>