Ex-Benue lawmaker arraigned over diversion of N18.9m meant for school facilities
The former House of Representatives member representing Gboko and Tarka federal constituency, John Dyegh, has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)before Justice M. Shitu Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State on a five-count charge bordering on the diversion of funds meant for school facilities in Benue State.
According to ICPC, the charges detailed alleged corrupt practices, including Dyegh’s receipt of N18,970,000 (Eighteen Million Nine Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira) on May 19, 2014.
The ICPC, via its verified X handle, said the former lawmaker was arraigned under case number FHC/MKD/CR/184/2024, violating the provisions of the ICPC Act 2000.
The former lawmaker was accused of allegedly channelling the funds through the First Bank account of Midag Limited, a company in which Dyegh has a substantial interest. This alleged action violates Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act 2000.
The statement read, “Hon. Dyegh was alleged to have received and transferred these funds through Midag Limited and Kangnaan Global Resources Limited, companies associated with him, contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act.
“The charge sheet alleged that Dyegh abused his office by privately benefiting from contracts awarded to these companies while overseeing the related funds as a signatory on their accounts.
Meanwhile, Justice Abubakar, at the commencement of the trial, ordered Dyegh to be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Center, Makurdi, pending the determination of his bail application and adjourned the matter till Monday, 11 November 2024.
However, at the resumed hearing of the case, Defense Counsel S.E. Irabo moved a bail application for his client, praying that the court grant him bail, citing health concerns.
The ICPC, represented by Bako Along and T.S. Iorngee, however, did not oppose the application.
After listening to the argument of the counsels, Justice Abubakar subsequently granted Dyegh bail in the amount of N20 million, requiring two sureties with international passports to be surrendered to the court and verifiable addresses, while adjourning the case until January 16, 2025, for further hearing.
Who is John Dyegh
John Dyegh is a Nigerian politician and businessman hailed from Gboko in Benue State.
Born on December 2, 1962, Dyegh served as a member of the 9th Nigeria National Assembly, representing the Gboko/Tarka Federal constituency at the House of Representatives of Nigeria. Dyegh previously served as a committee member on Appropriations, Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Education, Gas Resources, Inter-Parliamentary Relations, Science and Technology in the 7th National Assembly.
He ran for the second term as a favourite candidate, bearing the flag of the All Progressives Congress and retained his seat following the announcement of 28 March National Assembly Polls in the 2015 General Elections in which he polled 67,463 votes to defeat his challenger, Bernard Nenger of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) with 26,329 votes. He ran for a third term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and won. Dyegh successfully served his 3rd term in the National Assembly and was the House committee chairman on Human Rights.
He then ran for a fourth term under the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, where he lost to Regina Akume, a candidate of the All Progressives Congress, in the 2023 general elections.
