This is really a step forward to honesty in this country. According to information reaching us from our correspondent in Delsu, a Delta State High Court, sitting in Warri, has sentenced the Chief Security Officer, CSO of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Peter Obonyamo, to 33 years imprisonment for bribery.
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The sentence followed Obonyamo's conviction by the court for corruption related offences.
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The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, had sued Obonyamo to court for demanding N150,000 gratification from a contractor with the Delta State polytechnic.
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The Chief Security Officer, Obonyamo was also charged with receiving N100,000 from the contractor when his request was granted by the said contractor. The Chief Security Officer arrest came through a sting operation by ICPC operatives, as he was collecting the N100,000 marked money.
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Delivering judgement, Justice Briki-Okolosi held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt in counts 1, 3, 4, 6 and 11 of the charge, while he struck out counts 2 and 5 for duplicity. The court further held that counts 8, 9 and 10 were not proven beyond reasonable doubts. However, the court sentenced Obonyamo to seven years imprisonment on each of counts 1, 3, 4 and 6, with an option of N20,000 fine on each count. The court also sentenced the convict to five years imprisonment without an option of fine on count 11.
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The Chief Security Officer was, therefore, sentenced to a total of 33 years imprisonment, but would only spend seven years in prison, as the terms are to run concurrently. We just hope that this sent out a red alert to all those involve in bribery and corruption.