By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, docked oil mogul and ally to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Mr. Jide Omokore, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Omokore was arraigned alongside the former Managing Director of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, Victor Briggs; former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of NNPC, Abiye Membere; and former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo.
Also charged by the anti-graft agency were two corporate entities, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.
The accused persons took turns and pleaded not guilty to a nine-count charge EFCC entered against them, even as trial Justice Binta Nyako granted them N50 million bail each.
Earlier, Omokore’s counsel, Mr. Rafiu Lawal Rabana (SAN), contended that the charges were not ripe for hearing on the premise that not all the accused persons listed in the charge were present in court for arraignment.
He specifically noted that the anti-graft agency listed one Kolawole Akanni Aluko, who it said was at large, as one of the defendants in the matter.
Rabana, who was supported by counsel to the other defendants, argued that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, all the defendants ought to be served with the charge to enable them to be physically present in court before arraignment could take place.
However, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), argued that Aluko could be arraigned in absentia, saying “any time we get him, the charges could be amended.”
According to him, “Aluko is in Europe. We could not even take his statement, yet they want us to serve him along with others so that they could create a lacuna. The plea of those present in court should be taken.”
However, EFCC lawyer subsequently applied for Aluko’s name to be struck out from the charge, a request that was accordingly granted by the court
EFCC did not also oppose the defendants' bail applications.
Bail conditions Aside ordering the defendants to deposit N50 million each, the court said each of them must produce a surety, who must either be a senior civil servant or must have a landed property.
Justice Nyako said the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means, adding that the defendants must deposit their international passports and other travelling documents with the court.
One of the charge against the defendants read: “That you, Olajide Jones Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Ltd and Kolawole Akanni Aluko (now at large) between May and October, 2013, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, induced the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Government of Nigeria to deliver to you 5, 652, 227 barrels of crude oil (Brass blend) valued at the sum of US $ 616, 013, 615.27, through the medium of contact (Strategic Alliance Agreement) which delivery was induced by false pretence to wit: the representation that you have technical competence, professional skills and funds (both local and foreign) necessary to support NPDC in petroleum operation for the OML 60, 62, 62 and 63 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act CAP A6 2010 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.’’
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