FG sues boss of Peace Corps over alleged N1.4b fraud

The Federal government has filed a 90-count criminal charge against the Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Mr. Dickson Akor and the Incorporated Trustees of the Corps for alleged conversion of N1.4 billion. 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 accused of wearing 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. The charge filed by an Assistant Chief State Counsel, Aminu Alilu, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, also accused the defendants of laundering funds obtained through unlawful activities.


 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.

They were also charged in count 86 for organising and training of members of Peace Corps of Nigeria as a quasi-military organisation. 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. In count 89, the prosecution accused the defendants of operating as a private guard without licence.

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, 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.

 In the suit instituted by a former AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN), the plaintiffs are demanding for a sum of N2 billion as compensation for the embarrassment caused the Peace Corps of Nigeria and its Incorporated Trustees by the arrest and detention of its personnel.