Alleged $1.6bn Oil Fraud: Court Adjourns Omokore’s, Others Trial

The Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, adjourned until Feb.
23, the trial of Jide Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Limited and
Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited for alleged money
laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of 1.6 billion
dollars.

Also charged with Omokore are Victor Briggs, former managing
director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Membere
Abiye for alleged oil fraud involving Omokore’s companies in
respect of a Strategic Alliance Agreement on OML 26, 30, 34 &
42.

The defendants are facing prosecution by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on amended nine-count charge,
bordering on alleged money laundering and procurement fraud to the
tune of 1.6billion dollars.

At Monday’s hearing, the extra judicial statement made by
another witness, Kehinde O, an Estate Manager and Developer with YS
Construction Company, was admitted in evidence.

Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told
the court that the two witnesses he had scheduled to call were both
indisposed

“We wanted to call two witnesses whose information has been
front loaded but one of the witness says he has throat problem and
the other says he is in isolation, having tested positive for
COVID-19.”

He said that in order not to delay proceedings, the prosecution
substituted the name of the witness with the throat problem with
that of Kehinde O. who was in court.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned the matter until Feb. 23 for
continuation of hearing

On the last adjourned date, a prosecution witness, Abdulrasheed
Bawa, who is an investigator with the EFCC, told the court that
Omokore, bought properties for former minister of petroleum
resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

He tendered documents in respect of the properties and they were
admitted in evidence. .(NAN)

The Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, adjourned until Feb.
23, the trial of Jide Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Limited and
Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited for alleged money
laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of 1.6 billion
dollars.

Also charged with Omokore are Victor Briggs, former managing
director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Membere
Abiye for alleged oil fraud involving Omokore’s companies in
respect of a Strategic Alliance Agreement on OML 26, 30, 34 &
42.

The defendants are facing prosecution by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on amended nine-count charge,
bordering on alleged money laundering and procurement fraud to the
tune of 1.6billion dollars.

At Monday’s hearing, the extra judicial statement made by
another witness, Kehinde O, an Estate Manager and Developer with YS
Construction Company, was admitted in evidence.

Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told
the court that the two witnesses he had scheduled to call were both
indisposed

“We wanted to call two witnesses whose information has been
front loaded but one of the witness says he has throat problem and
the other says he is in isolation, having tested positive for
COVID-19.”

He said that in order not to delay proceedings, the prosecution
substituted the name of the witness with the throat problem with
that of Kehinde O. who was in court.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned the matter until Feb. 23 for
continuation of hearing

On the last adjourned date, a prosecution witness, Abdulrasheed
Bawa, who is an investigator with the EFCC, told the court that
Omokore, bought properties for former minister of petroleum
resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

He tendered documents in respect of the properties and they were
admitted in evidence. .(NAN)