A staff of the Delta State House of Assembly, John Adjeke Akpoghene, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for fraudulently receiving double salary of over N14.5 million.
Akpoghene was charged by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before the Delta State High Court, Asaba.
ICPC had, in a one-count charge before Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro of the Delta State High Court Asaba, accused the convict of receiving double salary from the Delta State House of Assembly and Ughelli South Local Government Area.
Counsel to ICPC, Mrs. S. Chibuzor, had told the court that the convict fraudulently received the total sum of N14,525,550 as double salary, over a period of four years from the State Assembly and the local government council.
The counsel said that the accused committed the offence while working as a state civil servant and a supervisory councillor with Ughelli South Local Government Area simultaneously.
Akpoghene had argued that he was unaware that it was a crime to have two government jobs and receive salaries from both at the same time.
In his ruling, Justice Marshall-Umokoro, sentenced him to two years imprisonment.
He was however, given an option of fine of N500,000
The judge further ruled that the convict should continue to make the necessary monthly refunds to the House of Assembly Service Commission.
