In what appears to be a high level of greed, three NGO staff have been arrested for mismanaging the whopping sum of N4.5m meant for people living with HIV.
The suspects, Owolabi Kayode Samuel, Esther Olubukola Mate and Abimbola David-Orugun have since been arrested by the EFCC, and arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N4.576m, on Thursday, May 3, 2018.
It was gathered that the money belonged to MTN Foundation, a subsidiary of MTN Nigeria, which was established for the purpose of giving back to the society, in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), for the treatment of people living with AIDS and the less-privileged in the society.
Led by the prosecution counsel, the first prosecution witness, PW1, Abasiekong Udobang, Programme Manager, MTN Nigeria, told the court how the defendants misappropriated the funds as the defendants, who are staff of Hope Worldwide Foundation, were arraigned alongside Cumulative Ventures Limited and Continental Best Buys Limited.
Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, J. O.Odubela, SAN, the witness confirmed that the money meant for the treatment of the AIDs victim was usually paid to Hope Worldwide quarterly.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case to June 26, 2018 for continuation of trial.
Source: News Agencies
