A Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, fixed September 18 for review of facts in an alleged corruption charge against two staff of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The defendants, Chief Accountant, Shola Onasanya, and Principal Executive Officer of Accounts, Halimat Olalere, are both staff of the IPPIS Payroll Desk Office of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Meta, Lagos.
They were dragged before Justice Ibrahim Kala by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), on an amended two-count charge bordering on diverting salaries of workers who had exited the FMC.
When the case was called yesterday, the prosecutor, an Assistant Director of the ICPC, Mr Enosa Omoghibo, informed the court of a plea bargain agreement of the defendants.
He told the court that following the plea bargain agreement filed on September 4, the prosecution had consequently filed an amended charge and applied that the same be read to the defendants.
The court, however, informed the prosecutor that the permission of the court ought to be first sought before the amended charge is introduced.
Taking hints from the court, Omoghibo then sought leave of court for the initial charge to be substituted with the amended charge, and that same be read to the defendants.
There was no objection from defence counsel. The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge.
Following their guilty pleas, the prosecutor moved an application citing the provisions of Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, for the agreement to be entered.
He prayed the court that the terms of the plea bargain agreement, which was supported by a statement of facts and a verifying affidavit, be entered as judgment in the case.
