Former Imo State transport commissioner, Laseberry Okafor Anyanwu, has been sentenced to three years in prison on charges of abuse of office and fraudulent diversion of ₦180,000,000.
Anyanwu was a commissioner during the tenure of Rochas Okorocha as governor.
The spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement said that Anyanwu, when he was employed as the chairman of the committee in the Review of Imo Transport Company, used his office to give himself corrupt benefits.
Uwujaren added that Anyanwu diverted ₦180,000,000 from the account of Imo Transport Company to Oma Oil & Industries Ltd, a company with an interest through a fake contract.
“Prince Laseberry Okafor Anyanwu alias Laseberry Okafor between the 6th of November 2017 and the 10th of November 2017, when he was the Chairman of the Review Committee of the Imo Transport Company, used his office to corruptly benefit himself. when he caused the transfer of property of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) from Imo Transport Company account with Polaris Bank Microfinance Imo State bank account to Polaris bank account No: 40906668828 belonging to Oma Oil & Industries Ltd, the company in which he is the Shareholder/Director/Chairman/Chief Executive Officer and signatory of the company’s bank account,” one of them is read.
At the trial, Anyanwu pleaded not guilty to all counts. During the issue, the prosecution called three witnesses and presented several documents that were admitted into evidence.
Judge K. A Lewanya, while delivering the verdict, stated that the prosecution had proven its case against the accused.
The court convicted Anyanwu and sentenced him to three years in prison without the option of a fine.