The Provost of the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology, Jos, Plateau state, Dr. Nkereuwem Etukudo, alongside four others were Monday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged diversion of public funds running into millions of naira, fraud and embezzlement.

The accused persons: the Accountant/Bursar of the institution, Mr. Yusuf Samuel; the Data Analyst, Mr. Ernest Demto; and Messrs Esio Udoh and Goodluck Echenwa, described as contractors, were arraigned before Justice Y.D. Dakwak of Court 2 of Jos High Court.

The prosecution counsel, Mr. Steve Odiase said the charges, contained in suit No. PLDJ/36c/2015, could not formally be read to the accused in court yesterday as one of the accused persons, Ernest Demto, was down with kidney disease and was receiving treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja.

However, he said that since they were to be jointly arraigned, it was improper to continue with the case since justice would not be seen to have been done if only four people were arraigned, The Punch reports.

The prosecution counsel prayed the court for a fairly long adjournment to enable the parties to prepare, adding that if by the next adjourned date he is still unfit to stand prosecution, he would have to amend the charges to enable the case go on.

Justice Dakwak granted the plea of the prosecution counsel and adjourned the case to May 2 for hearing.

count | 802

Provost of Jos institution arraigned for fraud