Thursday April 23, 08:47 AM
Nigerian power agency officials charged with fraud
ABUJA, (AFP) - Seven high-ranking officials from the country's electricity regulatory commission have been charged with "criminal diversion" of state funds, court papers showed.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused chairman Ransome Owan and six of the agency's commissioners of diverting for their private use about five billion naira (33 million dollars/26 million euros).
The seven officials of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), have all been suspended.
They were arraigned on Wednesday before an Abuja high court to answer a 196-count charge. If convicted, they could face up to 14 years in jail.
All seven, who pleaded not guilty, were remanded in custody until Friday when their lawyers are expected to request bail.
Nigeria's power supply is highly erratic. The country produces around one thirteenth of the power that South Africa generates for a population one third the size of Nigeria's.
On paper at least, large sums of money have been sunk into the power sector in recent years, without any apparent improvement.
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