FG takes peace corps commandant to court

FG slams criminal charges on Peace Corps boss
Dickson-Akor
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…over N1.4bn advance fee fraud
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The federal government, on Tuesday, filed a 90-count criminal charges against the commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria , Mr. Dickson Akor, and the incorporated trustees of the corps for alleged conversion of N1.4billion directly derived from extortion of job seekers into their personal use.
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The fresh suit is coming on the heels of N2billion fundamental human rights suit instituted by Peace Corps commandant, Dickson Akor, following his arrest and raid of the corps headquarters.
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In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/45/
2017, filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the defendants are further charged for wearing of uniforms and other identification marks contrary to section 24 (1) of the Private Guard Companies Act Cap P30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria , 2004, and punishable under section 32 (1) of the Act.
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The charge filed by Aminu Alilu, an Assistant Chief State Counsel on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, also accused the defendants of laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity contrary to section 7(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other fraud related Offences Act, Cap A6 laws of the Federation of
Nigeria , 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
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The federal government also accused the defendants of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other fraud related Offences Act, Cap A6 laws of the Federation of Nigeria , 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
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They were also charged in count 86 for organising and training of members of Peace Corps of Nigeria as a quasi- Military organization contrary to section 6(1)(a) of the Public Order Act, Cap P42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria , 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
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Count 88 of the charge accused the defendants of unauthorised display of flags contrary to section 7(4)(b) of the Public Order Act, Cap P42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria , 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
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In count 89, the prosecution accused the defendants of operating as a private guard without licence contrary to section 1(1) of the Private Guard Companies Act Cap P30, Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria , 2004, and punishable under section 32 (1) of the Act.
Under the offence of obtaining money by false pretence, the Federal government alleged that Dickson Akor and Incorporated Trustees of Peace Corps of Nigeria , had between January 1, 2013 and March 6, 2017 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja, did commit an offence to wit: by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained for yourselves the sum of N274, 712, 126. 18 from unsuspecting citizens of Nigeria who paid into your Eco bank’s account No. 4582022099.
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Some of the charges reads:
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That you Dickson Akor and Incorporated Trustees of Peace Corps of Nigeria , both of Peace Corps of Nigeria Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, on or about June 24, 2016, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja, did conduct a financial transactions when you transfered the proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: the sum of N60m obtained by false pretence to one Mukthar Dantata which said transaction you designed to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source or ownership of the said money.
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That you Dickson Akor and Incorporated Trustees of Peace Corps of Nigeria , both of Peace Corps of Nigeria Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, on or about June 24, 2016, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja, did commit an offence to wit: by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained for yourselves the sum of N42, 428, 000.00 from Peace Corps of Nigeria which was paid into your United Bank of Africa’s account No. 1005250986.
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That you Dickson Akor and Incorporated Trustees of Peace Corps of Nigeria , both of Peace Corps of Nigeria Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, on or about February 8, 2016, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja, did commit an offence to wit: by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained for yourselves the sum of N45, 500,000.00 from Peace Corps of
Nigeria which was paid into your United Bank of Africa’s account No. 1005250986.
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The case has already assigned to Justice Gabriel Kolawole of Court 6, Abuja division of the Federal High Court, but no date has been fixed for hearing.
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Following the raid at its headquarters in Abuja and subsequent arrest and detention of its Commandant and 49 others by a combined team of Police and DSS, the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) filed a N2b suit against the Attorney –General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector –General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS).
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In the suit instituted by a former Attorney –General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mr. Kanu Agabi SAN, the plaintiffs are demanding for a sum of N2B as compensation for the embarrassment caused the Peace Corps of Nigeria and its Incorporated Trustees by the arrest and detention of its personnel carried out in a commando style by the security operatives.
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In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the plaintiffs are asking the court to declare as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional the arrest of Ambassador Akoh and other officers of the Corps as well as the sealing up of its Head office in Abuja and offices in the 36 states of the federation.
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Plaintiffs further asked the court to declare that under the 1999 constitution as amended, they have not committed any offence to warrant their arrest, detention and sealing up of their offices across the country as done by the defendants.
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The defendants in the court action are, Police, IGP, National Security Adviser (NSA), DSS, DG-DSS and the AGF who are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respondents respectively.
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Apart from the above reliefs, the plaintiffs asked the court to declare that the sealing up of their office Headquarters in Abuja is illegal, unlawful, malicious and unconstitutional haven not committed any offence to warrant the unlawful invasion and seizure of properties.