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N3.6bn Fraud: EFCC Seeks Court Order To Arrest Ex-NDDC Boss

Published

2 years ago

February 1, 2024

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has approached a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, seeking a court warrant of arrest for a former Executive Director on Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission, Tuoyo Omatsuli, over an alleged N3.6bn fraud case.

The anti-graft agency revealed that its reason for approaching the court was to compel Omatsuli to attend his trial over the money laundering allegation.

The commission noted that Omatsuli and his co-defendants, rather than opening their defence, filed a no-case submission, which was heard on October 12, 2020, after the EFCC called 16 prosecution witnesses, and subsequently closed its case against the defendants for them to open their defence.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, revealed the development in a statement on Thursday.

Oyewale said, “The EFCC, on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, prayed Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos to issue a warrant of arrest to compel a former Executive Director on Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission, Tuoyo Omatsuli, to attend his trial over an alleged N3.6bn fraud.

“Omatsuli, alongside Francis Momoh, Don Parker Properties Limited and Building Associates Limited, were initially standing trial on an alleged case of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N3,645,000,000 before retired Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.”

One of the counts read, “That you, Tuoyo Omatsuli, Don Parker Properties Limited, Francis Momoh and Building Associates Limited, between August 2014 and September 2015 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to disguise the illegal origin of N3,645,000,000, being proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: corruption and gratification; and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Act 2011 as amended by Act No 1 of 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

Another count read, “That you, Tuoyo Omatsuli, between August 2014 and September 2015 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did procure Francis Momoh and Building Associates Limited to use the total sum of N3,645,000,000 paid by Starline Consultancy Services into the Diamond Bank Plc Account No. 0023785116 operated by Building Associate Ltd, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: Corruption and Gratification; and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Act 2011 as amended by Act No 1 of 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

He, however, noted that they pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

Oyewale added, “The EFCC, after calling 16 prosecution witnesses, subsequently closed its case against the defendants. However, rather than open their defence, the defendants filed a no-case submission, which was heard on October 12, 2020.

“In his ruling on November 11, 2020, Justice Saidu discharged the first defendant, Omatsuli, saying, ‘I have gone through the charge preferred against the defendants as well as the evidence of all the 16 prosecution witnesses and I found no reason for the first defendant to enter the defence’.”

He further revealed that the EFCC appealed the ruling, adding that the Court of Appeal, on April 13, 2022, upheld the appeal of the EFCC, and dismissed the earlier ruling of the trial court.

Oyewale noted, “Consequently, the EFCC vowed to appeal the discharge of the former NDCC boss. On April 13, 2022, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, upheld the appeal of the EFCC and dismissed the ruling of the trial court.

“The judgment delivered by Justice Festus Ogbuinya held that the ruling of the lower court dated November 11, 2020, discharging the respondent, Omatsuli, of the money laundering charges ‘is hereby set aside and he shall enter into his defence accordingly on the same counts.

“The Appellate Court, however, discharged Omatsuli on counts 27, 28 and 29 of the charge. In the course of the trial, Justice Saidu retired and the matter was subsequently re-assigned to Justice Osiagor.”

He noted that at the resumed sitting on Wednesday, counsel for the second defendant, Norrison Quakers, SAN informed the court that Omatsuli was absent in court because he had an appeal pending before the Supreme Court.

News

Ossiomo Restores Power To Customers After Barely Two Weeks Outage

Published

2 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Editor

Ossiomo Power Plant has restored power to its customers after barely two weeks of blackout. The Guardian, however, learnt that the restoration covers not all customers but those on the Sapele Road axis of Benin and most especially customers on the power plant’s 33kva.

Ossiomo, an independent power generation and distribution firm was floated in 2020 under the previous government in the state to break the monopoly of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC). It generates 95MW of electricity which it supplies to government buildings, Edo State Government House, Edo NUJ secretariat, private organisations, streetlights, among others.

The power plant, however, went off September 1, 2025, due to ownership tussle between the Nigeria partners —Ossiomo— and its Chinese partners —Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC). CCETC said “instruction to shutdown was because we lost lots of money and did not get any return on investment,” adding that “all the $20m investment was done by us including the distribution lines.”

The Nigeria partners —Ossiomo, however, refuted their claims, alleging that the Chinese partners, having seen how lucrative the business is, “went to some quarters and raised some issues probably thinking they can manoeuvre us with the help of some big persons, so that they can use their machines to generate power and sideline us but this is not possible.”

Apologising to customers during an interactive session with journalists and customers, weekend, representatives of the management of Ossiomo, Engr. Festus Evbuomwan, while emphasising that all their Chinese partners’ claims were false, said the management was not aware of the $20m investment the Chinese partner claimed, adding: “when they generate power, we sell and pay them, so I don’t know at what point we owe them.”

He added: “They have been also saying that they have not been receiving anything, but I want to tell you unequivocally that first, the partners run a joint account where their investment is going into. More so, The Chinese partners have received over ₦2bn so far for the power they generate with their machines. When they generate the power, we sell and pay them.”

According to him, trouble started when several attempts to sideline Ossiomo by the Chinese partners failed. He added that they (Chinese partners) then came up with a request of payment of ₦185m to two Chinese staff not known to the management. He said Ossiomo management resisted payment to this ghost staff, and this led to the Chinese partners shutting down the plant totally on September 1, 2025.

Evbuomwan, who said Ossiomo has procured its own turbines and has started power generation and distribution, explained further, “We have purchased turbines, and one has started working. They are working on the second one, so, by the time our five turbines start working we will be in full capacity. Even with that, those connected to the government line may not be reached immediately. This is because the government bought the poles and contracted the wiring, and we cannot force the government to do our bid. Also, we are making efforts to site 33kva transformer along Airport Road and Lagos Road as soon as possible, so that our customers there will get power.”

Evbuomwan, while urging the “government to encourage the Nigerian citizens to invest and not to work against local investors,” added: “I must again, at this juncture, make it clear that the Edo State government does not have a stake in the company.”

He used the opportunity to appeal to the “government to let us supply power to customers through their Lines. I want to emphasise that Ossiomo is not completely shut down.”

News

Police Rescues Kidnap Victim, Foils Attempt To Abduct Three Others In Edo

Published

2 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Editor

Operative of the Edo State Police Command has rescued a kidnap victim, Elohor Osifoh, who was abducted on September 10. 2025.

This was contained in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, and made available to newsmen in Benin on Sunday.

Yamu in the statement disclosed that operatives of the command also foiled abduction of three others who were traveling to Akwa Ibom through the state.

The statement reads, “In the early hours of 13th September 2025, at about 02:30hrs, operatives of the Okada Division led by CSP Opatoyinbo John, while on a routine patrol at Morgan and Isiuwa slope along the Benin–Lagos expressway, responded swiftly to a distress call regarding a kidnapping attempt.

“Armed hoodlums had barricaded the highway with woods and opened sporadic gunfire in an attempt to intercept and abduct the occupants of a Toyota Sienna vehicle with registration number KUJ 342 CU (Abuja).

“The vehicle, driven by one Nana Aghogho ‘M’, aged 51 years, was conveying fingerling fish from Lagos State to Akwa Ibom State with two passengers on board.

“On sighting the gunmen, the operatives engaged them in a fierce exchange of fire, forcing the hoodlums to abandon their criminal mission and flee into the nearby bush. The driver and his two passengers, Oseghale Mathias ‘M’ (40yrs) and John Edobor ‘M’ (24yrs), were rescued unhurt.

“The barricades placed by the hoodlums were immediately cleared, thereby restoring free flow of traffic and ensuring the safety of other road users.

“In a related development, operatives of the Ekpoma Divisional Headquarters led by SP Nelson Igbinoba today rescued and reunited with the family, a female victim Elohor Osifoh earlier kidnapped on 10th September, 2025 after days of relentless bush combing rescue operation.”

Yamu stated that the Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika, commended the gallantry and prompt response of the operatives, while assuring members of the public of the Command’s resilience and commitment to rid the state of criminal elements.

He said the CP further urged road users to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to the nearest police formation for swift action.

News

Resident Doctors Suspend Warning Strike After Two Days, Resume Work Nationwide

Published

4 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its nationwide warning strike just two days after it commenced, bringing temporary relief to the country’s overstretched public health sector.

The strike, which commenced on Friday, was suspended on Saturday night, with members directed to resume duties on Sunday.

President of the association, Dr. Tope Osundara, confirmed the development in a message on Saturday night.

“Some of our demands have been met. The government has promised to look into other issues. Strike suspended; resumption to work tomorrow (today). We did this as a sign of goodwill and to assist Nigerians who are seeking healthcare in our various facilities,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, details of the specific demands met had not been disclosed.

The strike had caused service disruptions in public hospitals nationwide, leaving consultants and other categories of health workers to manage increased workloads, resulting in delays for patients.

NARD had embarked on the industrial action to press home several demands, including immediate payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, settlement of five months’ arrears from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review, and clearance of longstanding salary backlogs.

Other demands include payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, prompt disbursement of specialist allowances, and restoration of the recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

The association also called on the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to issue membership certificates to all qualified candidates, implement the 2024 CONMESS, resolve outstanding welfare issues in Kaduna State, and address the condition of resident doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.