OMOLEYE JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of M. O. Oniyangi J of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory holding at Gwagwalada delivered on 17 March 2006. The appellants as accused persons were arraigned before the trial court on a two-count charge of Conspiracy and Official Corruption under section 26(1)(c), punishable under section 9(1) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 (hereinafter referred to as the Act).
The charge reads thus:
“Count 1
That you Caleb Ojo (M) and Samuel Ojo (M) on or about 9 July 2002, at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division conspired with each other and corruptly gave the sum of ₦20,000.00 (twenty thousand naira only) to an official of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for the said official to issue in the course of his official duty a countermanding letter exonerating the 1st accused from allegations of corrupt practices levelled against him in his …