Ex-NIMASA boss, Omatseye bags 5-year jail term

Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration
Safety Agency, Mr. Raymond Temisan Omatseye, has been sentenced to
five years in prison, by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos,
over a N1.5bn contract scam.

Omatseye was on Friday sentenced after his arraignment before
the court on a 27-count charge bordering on alleged contract
variation, bid rigging and awarding contract above his approval
limit.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, 14 March, the
prosecution counsel, Godwin Obla, SAN, and defence counsel, E. D
Onyeke made their final addresses and adopted them before the
court.

Onyeke filed and served the court and prosecution a written
address and adopted.

He urged the court to dismiss the case against the former NIMASA
boss on the grounds that, the prosecution has not been able to
prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Obla also adopted his written address and expressed confidence
that the 27-count charge against the defendant has been proved
beyond all reasonable doubt and prayed the court to find the
defendant guilty of all the charges.

He noted that 25 counts of the charges preferred against
Omatseye dwelt on the approval of contract above the threshold
level and the other two counts dealt with bid rigging. He also said
that, contrary to existing regulations, contract was awarded to a
company that was the highest bidder and which was not even
pre-qualified for the contract.

Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration
Safety Agency, Mr. Raymond Temisan Omatseye, has been sentenced to
five years in prison, by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos,
over a N1.5bn contract scam.

Omatseye was on Friday sentenced after his arraignment before
the court on a 27-count charge bordering on alleged contract
variation, bid rigging and awarding contract above his approval
limit.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, 14 March, the
prosecution counsel, Godwin Obla, SAN, and defence counsel, E. D
Onyeke made their final addresses and adopted them before the
court.

Onyeke filed and served the court and prosecution a written
address and adopted.

He urged the court to dismiss the case against the former NIMASA
boss on the grounds that, the prosecution has not been able to
prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Obla also adopted his written address and expressed confidence
that the 27-count charge against the defendant has been proved
beyond all reasonable doubt and prayed the court to find the
defendant guilty of all the charges.

He noted that 25 counts of the charges preferred against
Omatseye dwelt on the approval of contract above the threshold
level and the other two counts dealt with bid rigging. He also said
that, contrary to existing regulations, contract was awarded to a
company that was the highest bidder and which was not even
pre-qualified for the contract.