Two Executives of ECMC Engineers Limited, Engr. Hakeem Saka and Sani Abdulrasheed and the company have been arraigned before Justice A. A Fashola of the Federal Capital Terroritory High Court in Jabi.
They were arraigned for allegedly submitting a fake tax clearance certificate and audited accounts to secure a World Bank- Assisted Project with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, of the Federal Ministry of Environment.
The duo and their company were said to have sometimes in the year 2018 in Abuja within the judicial division of the Court, made a false document, wit: FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE SERVICE TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE with Tax Identification Number 17756929-0001 dated 12th February, 2018 for assessment year 2015-2017 purporting it to have been issued by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that brought charge stated that the defendants “committed an offence contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 364 of the same law”
The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the four count charges preferred against them.
Upon their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho asked the court for a date for the commencement of trial.
However, the defence counsel drew the attention of the court to a bail application which he said had been served on the prosecution.
Justice Fashola adjourned the case till December 15, 2021 for ruling on the bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Correctional Centre.