Court Acquits Judiciary Accountant of N20 Million Theft After Six Years

Iniobong Essien, an accountant for the Akwa Ibom State judiciary, has been cleared of theft charges related to N20 million that went missing nearly six years ago. He was discharged on February 18 by the State High Court in Uyo.

Justice Bassey Nkanang delivered the verdict, stating that the prosecution did not adequately prove that Essien had taken the money with fraudulent intent. Reports indicate that the judge emphasized that the case failed to establish the essential elements of theft, as mere negligence was not enough to support the charges against him.

Essien faced allegations of conspiracy and theft in connection with the funds withdrawn from Zenith Bank in February 2020. The state prosecutor had argued that the circumstances surrounding the transaction pointed towards potential criminality.

During the trial, one of the prosecution's witnesses, Udofot Etukudo, who was the chief accountant at the time, testified that he had issued two cheques on February 13, 2020, for the withdrawal of N20 million, designated for official activities.

Etukudo disclosed that Essien had received permission to hire a bullion van and police escort for the cash transport, yet he did not comply on the scheduled day. Instead, he went to the bank the following day, a move the prosecution claimed violated financial protocols regarding cash handling.

Godwin Akpan, who acted as the chief security officer of the judiciary, testified that the money was missing from Essien's car upon his return to the headquarters. He noted that there were no signs of forced entry into the vehicle, leading to suspicions that the theft might have been staged.

In his defense, Essien, represented by attorney Dominic Okon, denied involvement in the theft, asserting that he was caught in unfortunate circumstances. He maintained that the funds allocated for hiring a bullion van were never disbursed to him, forcing him to use his personal car to move the money.

Two witnesses from the judiciary reinforced Essien's claims, testifying they saw unidentified individuals taking bags from the trunk of his vehicle during the incident, which suggested that the theft was not committed by Essien himself.

The court ultimately held that the prosecution's case was built solely on circumstantial evidence, which did not conclusively link Essien to the theft. Justice Nkanang pointed out that the absence of direct evidence from the prosecution left reasonable doubt concerning Essien's alleged criminal actions.

While the court acquitted Essien of all charges, Justice Nkanang criticized his approach to managing public funds, remarking on the imprudence of using his vehicle for such a large sum and leaving the cash unattended. However, such negligence was deemed insufficient to constitute the crime of stealing.