Exactly one year after Mr. Joseph Ede of the Awgu Chief Magistrate’s Court, Enugu, allegedly avoided being investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, he has finally been arrested and will face prosecution soon.


In July 2010, Ede, a magistrate, was mentioned in a case of bribe involving Madubuchi Oji who was arrested and remanded in prison since September 2008.


The trial court had allegedly demanded the sum of N80, 000 before Oji’s bail bond would be treated.


Oji’s family members, led by one Mr. Charles Anukwe, said Ede’s clerk, Mr. Ambrose Ifesinachi, demanded the money before he would forward the papers to the magistrate for endorsement. They then reported the matter to the ICPC.


In the petition, with reference number NR-P-NC-289-2010, Anukwe said Ifesinachi demanded bribe before processing the bail.


When he was arrested, Ifesinachi reportedly told the ICPC operatives that he was acting on behalf of the magistrate.


Ede however disowned his clerk and said Ifesinachi was acting on his own.


Ifesinachi is being prosecuted at the Enugu High Court for violation of Section 10 of the ICPC Act.


Just a year after that incident, Ede was also arrested for allegedly demanding a N500,000 bribe from a surety for an accused in another matter before his court.


The ICPC said the magistrate was arrested after he allegedly received marked notes from operatives who posed as family members of the surety.


ICPC’s Head of Public Enlightenment, Mr. Mike Sowe, said, “An initial sum of N100,000 was paid to his account, in addition to another payment of N50,000 cash which he collected from the surety. In his determination to collect more money, the magistrate continued to pester, harass and intimidate the surety who finally decided to report the matter to the commission.


ICPC spokesman, Mr. Folu Olamiti, said Ede had been released on bail for medical reasons.


source punch newspaper