• February 11, 2025

 

The suspended Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Mounir Gwarzo was earlier today arraigned in an FCT High Court in Apo by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on 14 counts charges bordering on gratification and abuse of office.

He was arraigned before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi alongside a Principal Manager, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Jamila Muhammad.

ExpressDay recalls that Gwarzo was suspended as Director General of SEC in November 2017 by the former Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun following allegations of financial impropriety.

The ICPC in the new charges alleged that Gwarzo on or about Dec. 28, 2016 while serving as SEC DG knowingly held a private interest as a director and shareholder of Outbound Investment Limited, a company which was awarded a contract to supply and install 12 units of air conditioners.

The commission alleged that four units of refrigerators at SEC Lagos zonal office were bought by SEC for N3. 4 million contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Act, 2000.

ICPC also alleged that, among things, that Gwarzo used his position as SEC DG to gratify himself when Outbound Investment Limited was awarded the contract to supply and install 12 units of air conditioners and four units of refrigerators at SEC Lagos zonal office by the Commission, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that Muhammad, on about Nov. 15, 2015, while being a public officer used her position as Principal Manager at NIMC to gratify herself.

ICPC alleged that when Outlook Communications Limited, where she was a shareholder and director was awarded a contract to air a 60-minute awareness campaign radio jingles on e-dividend in the North-East region for the sum of N798 million, contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act.

She was further, alleged to have knowingly and directly held a private interest as a shareholder and director of Outlook Communications Limited, which was awarded a contract to air a 60-minute awareness campaign radio jingles on e-dividend in the North-Central states for the sum of N1. 3 million by SEC thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Act, 2000.

Gwarzo and Muhammad pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail by the court of N10 million each with one surety in like sum.

The surety, according to Justice Adeniyi, must be a resident of the FCT and a civil servant on the employment of either the Federal Government or any of its agencies or FCT Administration or any of its agencies.

The judge ordered that the defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Facility pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.

He then adjourned the matter until April 22 and April 23 for commencement of trial.

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