Five persons have been arraigned before a High court in Uyo by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for impersonating its officers.

The five accused persons are Emmanuel Akpabio; Adediran Destiny; Nsikak Ebiti; Unyime Udo, and Esther Udoh.

The suspects were said to have disguised as ICPC officials and approached an employee of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Jeremiah Efe with false claims that the commission had a case against him.

According to the presiding judge, Justice Ifiok Ukana, the accused persons conspired to commit a felony to wit and also falsely posed as employees of the ICPC to commit fraud.

The Charge between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the five accused persons read, “On the 8th day of July, at about 10:00am in the morning at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Complex, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court falsely presented themselves to one Jeremiah Efe that they are public officers to wit staff of the ICPC and that there was a petition against the said Jeremiah Efe in ICPC.”

The five accused persons were also charged with conspiracy contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Justice Ukana granted bail to the five accused persons with N5m each and with two sureties each in the like sums.

He added that one of the two sureties in each case must be, at least, a level 12 officer in Akwa Ibom State public service resident in Uyo.

According to him, the other surety must be a resident of Uyo metropolis with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case had been adjourned till November 2, 2016.

Azeez