The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri on Tuesday sentenced a traditional ruler to two years imprisonment over alleged financial misappropriation, Igbere TV reports.
The accused identified as Eze Bob Ubiaru, is the paramount ruler of Ipupe Autonomous Community in Ubalaka, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.
Igbere TV reports that the Abia State High Court had in its earlier ruling, delivered same judgement. What this implies is that the Appeal Court only upheld the previous ruling by the High Court.
Igbere TV reports that the traditional ruler is accused of embezzling the sum of 40, out of 60 million naira belonging to the community.
The money, Igbere TV learnt, was meant for the compensation of his community for the construction of National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) electricity transmission lines from Enugu through the Ipupe Community.
Igbere TV gathered that the 60 million was paid as compensation to the ruler to relocate the community shrines in order to give way for the power project that passed through the area.
In its ruling on Tuesday, the Appeal Court affirmed the High Court’s judgement that the sum of N10 million in a deposit account in First Bank Plc, fixed by Eze Ubiaru from the proceeds of crime, be forfeited and given to the true representatives of Ipupe community.
The Court also ruled that the shares bought by the ruler from the proceeds of crime be forfeited, sold and the money realised given to the same representatives of the community.
The Appeal Court, however, gave Eze Ubiaru an option of three million naira fine, in place of the two years imprisonment.
