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N3.6bn Fraud: EFCC Seeks Court Order To Arrest Ex-NDDC Boss
Published
3 months agoon
By
EditorThe 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.
READ ALSO: Abia Police Arrest 3 EFCC Impersonators Robbing Varsity Students
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.”
READ ALSO: EFCC Drags Longest Serving Rep Member, Mutu, Two Others To Court For Alleged Money Laundering
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.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: EFCC To Arraign Obiano Over Alleged ₦4bn Fraud Wednesday
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.
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News
Bauchi Lawmaker Pledges To Expedite Passage Of Bill On Reduction Of Out-Of-School Children
Published
50 mins agoon
May 10, 2024By
EditorHonourable Nasiru Ala, the Chairman, House Committee on Education in the Bauchi State House of Assembly has pledged to expedite the passage of the state framework Bill to reduce Out-Of-School in the state.
He made the pledge during a two-day regional stakeholders meeting on out-of-school children and retention, transition as well as completion models in Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa states.
According to him, any moment the bill is sent to the state House of Assembly from the Executive, the lawmakers would expedite actions to ensure that the bill is passed within three to four weeks.
He said: “Based on the law making, we are going to enact this particular law on the domestication of the Bauchi state framework to reduce Out-of-School children bill within three to four weeks from the day of reception from the Executive Arm.
READ ALSO: Bill On Unemployment Benefit Scales Second Reading
“Our governor has been very cooperative and supportive on this particular issue of out of school children because it is a serious menace.
“As an academic, I’m not always happy anytime I hear the word Out-of-School children.
“That is why it’s not going to be a big deal in the Bauchi state House of Assembly to enact the state framework to reduce Out-of-School children in the state.
“In three weeks time In-Sha-Allah, we are going to pass into Bill this State Framework to reduce Out-of-School children in the state”.
READ ALSO: EFCC Grills Six Senior NSCDC Officers Over N6bn Fraud
Also speaking, Mr Raphael Aiyedipe, Education Officer, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) had developed a National Framework of Action to Reduce Out-of-School Children and drive access to education in the country.
According to him, the framework commits to substantially and systematically decrease the number of Out-of-School children in Nigeria by 2030.
He highlighted some of the objectives of the framework to include; improve access and quality of education for all Nigerian children, drive improvement in learning and relevant skills development.
Others, he said, were to accelerate the social and economic development of communities and the country at large.
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“The Framework has 5 thematic areas that includes; political actors and this means gaining the political will and government commitment.
“Best practices and alternative pathways and this translates to defeating learning poverty, Community accountability, that is engaging stakeholders to build ownership.
“Technology and ICT which means improving access through innovative solutions and Financing mechanisms, that is, reaching the most vulnerable,” he explained.
News
EFCC Trial: ‘Even The Prophets Went To Prison’ – Buhari’s Minister Comforts Self In Court
Published
11 hours agoon
May 10, 2024By
EditorA former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, standing trial for an alleged N7.2bn fraud, said he was ready to go to prison just like the prophets.
Sirika, his daughter, and three others were arraigned at a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday on a six-count amended criminal charge before Justice Sylvanus Oriji.
A video of the ex-minister speaking in court with his lawyers surfaced on X on Thursday.
In the video, Sirika, dressed in cream Babariga, could be heard saying, “It’s okay. Fatima, it’s okay,” while comforting his daughter.
READ ALSO: Cleric Sets Wife’s House Ablaze For Allegedly Refusing To Participate In Late Night Prayer
He continued, “Even prophets have gone (to prison). Those that went, haven’t they finished theirs already?…whatever Allah says”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused the ex-minister, his daughter, son-in-law and Al-Duraq Investment Limited, of fraud in connection with the botched Nigerian Air project.
Meanwhile, the court granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N100m with two sureties each.
Before the trial judge, Justice Sylvanus Orji granted the bail request of the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them after it was read out to them.
The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, had informed the court of an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7, and filed on May 8, which was not opposed by the counsel for the defendants.
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Sirika’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court of his client’s bail application dated May 6.
The other defendants similarly, moved their bail applications and prayed the court to be liberal in the bail conditions.
Jacobs, on his part, told the court that all the defendants were on administrative bail and asked the court to grant bail on the condition that would make them appear for their trials.
Apart from the N100m bail, Justice Osuji added that one of the sureties must own a landed property with valid land titles in like sum within the Federal Capital Territory.
The judge also held that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means while he barred the defendants from travelling outside the country without its permission.
He added that failure to fulfil the bail conditions would earn the defendants a stay in a correctional facility.
News
Tiktok Bans Nigerian Content Creator’s Account After Completing 24-hour Buried-alive Challenge [VIDEO]
Published
11 hours agoon
May 10, 2024By
EditorNigerian man, Young C, has been successfully exhumed after spending 24 hours buried alive in a coffin.
Young C began the challenge on Wednesday, May 8 and has completed it.
At several intervals, Young C gave updates from inside the coffin.
His challenge however led to TikTok permanently banning his account.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Nigerian Man Exhumed After Completing 24-hour Buried Alive Challenge
After he was ‘’exhumed’, he cautioned viewers against attempting similar stunts due to the inherent dangers involved.
Watch a video of him being exhumed below
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