Nigeria Universities – Polytechnics and College of Education news Nigerian Educational News | Zenith Of Educational NewsThis is really a step forward to honesty in this country. According to information reaching us from our correspondent in Delsu, a Delta State High Court, sitting in Warri, has sentenced the Chief Security Officer, CSO of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Peter Obonyamo, to 33 years imprisonment for bribery.
The sentence followed Obonyamo’s conviction by the court for corruption related offences.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, had sued Obonyamo to court for demanding N150,000 gratification from a contractor with the Delta State polytechnic.
The Chief Security Officer, Obonyamo was also charged with receiving N100,000 from the contractor when his request was granted by the said contractor. The Chief Security Officer arrest came through a sting operation by ICPC operatives, as he was collecting the N100,000 marked money.
Delivering judgement, Justice Briki-Okolosi held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt in counts 1, 3, 4, 6 and 11 of the charge, while he struck out counts 2 and 5 for duplicity. The court further held that counts 8, 9 and 10 were not proven beyond reasonable doubts. However, the court sentenced Obonyamo to seven years imprisonment on each of counts 1, 3, 4 and 6, with an option of N20,000 fine on each count. The court also sentenced the convict to five years imprisonment without an option of fine on count 11.
The Chief Security Officer was, therefore, sentenced to a total of 33 years imprisonment, but would only spend seven years in prison, as the terms are to run concurrently. We just hope that this sent out a red alert to all those involve in bribery and corruption.
