‘$1.6bn fraud’: Witness narrates how Omokore received $140m in 12 months

Ayilara Abdul, a witness, has narrated how Jide Omokore,
a business associate of Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former minister
of petroleum resources, used his company’s account to allegedly
launder funds.

Omokore, who is chairman of Atlantic Energy Brass Development
Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, was arraigned
on a nine-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).

He was accused of allegedly diverting $1.6 billion said to be
proceeds of petroleum products belonging to the federal
government.

Omokore was arraigned alongside Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere,
David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and
Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

At the federal high court, Abuja, on Friday, Abdul, a compliance
officer with Skye Bank Plc, narrated how an account who has Omokore
and one Doyin Femi-Johnson as signatories received $140 million in
12 months (March 2013 – February 2014).

“Sometime in 2015, we got a request from EFCC, asking for
information on all accounts in the name of Espidal Nigeria Limited
and Marine Company Limited, that we should furnish them with the
account opening package, statement of account and certificate of
identification as well as bank verification number (BVN), linked to
the account. This was done,” Abdul said at the resumed trial.

“And sometime last month (February 2018), the same request
was received from the EFCC to furnish them with the same
information. On March 8, 2013, there was a credit inflow from
Atlantic Energy into this account. The amount is $15,499,950;

“On that same day, there was a transfer of $1million into Skymit
account. On March 11, 2013, there was a transfer of $1,002,643.83
in favour of Skymit Limited. On March 19, 2013, there was a credit
inflow of $8,600,000 by order of Atlantic. On March 12, 2013, there
was an inflow of $4,999,50 by order of Atlantic Energy Drilling
Concept limited.

“On April 26, 2013, there was an inflow of $2million by order of
Atlantic. On page 32 of the same exhibit, on May 20, 2013, there
was an inflow of $1million by order of Atlantic Energy.

“On May 22, 2013, there was an inflow of $4million by order of
Olajide Omokore and on the same day, there was an inflow of
$2million by Kolawole Aluko. On May 31, 2013, there was an inflow
of $20million dollars by order of Atlantic.

“On June 14, 2013, there was an inflow of $4million by order of
Atlantic. On June 20, 2013, there was an inflow of $6million and
the credit into the account was done by Olajide Jones Omokore. On
June 27, 2013, there was an inflow of $2,899,940 by order of
Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited. On July 15, 2013, there
was an inflow of $27,500,000 by order of Atlantic Energy. On July
30, 2013 there was an inflow of $11million by order of Atlantic
Energy.

“On July 30, 2013 there was an inflow of $11million by order of
Atlantic Energy. On February 6, 2014, there was an inflow of
$34,500,000 by order of Atlantic Energy. On August 11, 2014,
$1.5million was transferred in favour of Skymit Limited and on
September 17, 2014, the sum of $1million was again transferred to
Skymit.”

The witness added that the balance in the account as of December
1, 2015, was $95,533,71.

Nnamdi Dimgba, the judge handling the case, adjourned the matter
till April 19, 26 and 27 for continuation of trial.

Ayilara Abdul, a witness, has narrated how Jide Omokore,
a business associate of Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former minister
of petroleum resources, used his company’s account to allegedly
launder funds.

Omokore, who is chairman of Atlantic Energy Brass Development
Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, was arraigned
on a nine-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).

He was accused of allegedly diverting $1.6 billion said to be
proceeds of petroleum products belonging to the federal
government.

Omokore was arraigned alongside Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere,
David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and
Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

At the federal high court, Abuja, on Friday, Abdul, a compliance
officer with Skye Bank Plc, narrated how an account who has Omokore
and one Doyin Femi-Johnson as signatories received $140 million in
12 months (March 2013 – February 2014).

“Sometime in 2015, we got a request from EFCC, asking for
information on all accounts in the name of Espidal Nigeria Limited
and Marine Company Limited, that we should furnish them with the
account opening package, statement of account and certificate of
identification as well as bank verification number (BVN), linked to
the account. This was done,” Abdul said at the resumed trial.

“And sometime last month (February 2018), the same request
was received from the EFCC to furnish them with the same
information. On March 8, 2013, there was a credit inflow from
Atlantic Energy into this account. The amount is $15,499,950;

“On that same day, there was a transfer of $1million into Skymit
account. On March 11, 2013, there was a transfer of $1,002,643.83
in favour of Skymit Limited. On March 19, 2013, there was a credit
inflow of $8,600,000 by order of Atlantic. On March 12, 2013, there
was an inflow of $4,999,50 by order of Atlantic Energy Drilling
Concept limited.

“On April 26, 2013, there was an inflow of $2million by order of
Atlantic. On page 32 of the same exhibit, on May 20, 2013, there
was an inflow of $1million by order of Atlantic Energy.

“On May 22, 2013, there was an inflow of $4million by order of
Olajide Omokore and on the same day, there was an inflow of
$2million by Kolawole Aluko. On May 31, 2013, there was an inflow
of $20million dollars by order of Atlantic.

“On June 14, 2013, there was an inflow of $4million by order of
Atlantic. On June 20, 2013, there was an inflow of $6million and
the credit into the account was done by Olajide Jones Omokore. On
June 27, 2013, there was an inflow of $2,899,940 by order of
Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited. On July 15, 2013, there
was an inflow of $27,500,000 by order of Atlantic Energy. On July
30, 2013 there was an inflow of $11million by order of Atlantic
Energy.

“On July 30, 2013 there was an inflow of $11million by order of
Atlantic Energy. On February 6, 2014, there was an inflow of
$34,500,000 by order of Atlantic Energy. On August 11, 2014,
$1.5million was transferred in favour of Skymit Limited and on
September 17, 2014, the sum of $1million was again transferred to
Skymit.”

The witness added that the balance in the account as of December
1, 2015, was $95,533,71.

Nnamdi Dimgba, the judge handling the case, adjourned the matter
till April 19, 26 and 27 for continuation of trial.