From Dispatch Room
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has secured the conviction of Mr. Henry Iloka, Managing Director of Alliance Boots Limited, over offences bordering on forgery and making false statements to investigators.
The case was linked to a consultancy contract awarded under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP.
Justice U.P. Kekemeke of Court 4, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja, delivered the judgment.
According to the ICPC, Alliance Boots Limited was awarded a consultancy contract by the Federal Ministry of Environment for HYPREP Media and Public Relations in Ogoniland valued at N182,721,000.
The Commission said Iloka attached forged documents to his company’s bid submissions to falsely suggest that Alliance Boots Limited had previously executed contracts for the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission.
ICPC also charged him with making false statements to investigators during the course of the investigation.
One of the counts stated that Iloka falsely claimed on November 13, 2019, that pre-qualification documents submitted by Alliance Boots Limited to the Federal Ministry of Environment were genuine.
The Commission said the claim related to a purported Central Bank of Nigeria letter of award for consultancy services on a media intelligence project, which was found to be false.
Another count stated that Iloka forged a document titled “Letter of Award of Contract for Production and Transmission of NCC Weekly Telecom Today Programme, Lot A4/5,” dated August 28, 2013, and submitted it as part of requirements for the HYPREP consultancy contract.
After hearing evidence and witnesses presented by the prosecution, the court found the defendant guilty on all four counts.
Justice Kekemeke sentenced Iloka to pay a fine of N100,000 each on counts one and two for making false statements, contrary to Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The court also imposed a fine of N500,000 each on counts three and four for forgery, contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code Act.
The court ordered that all fines be paid cumulatively.
The ICPC warned contractors against using forged documents or false representations in bids for government contracts, adding that it remains committed to promoting accountability and integrity in public procurement.
— Newspot Nigeria
