The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, threatened to close the suit on alleged fraud of $1.6 billion instituted by the federal government against Jide Omokore and five others.

Mr Omokore is an ally of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke.

When the matter was called, the Prosecuting Counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe told the court that the lead Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, (SAN), had requested the court to stand down the matter.

Mr Atolagbe told Justice Nnamdi Dimgba that Mr Jacobs had informed him on Wednesday night that he could not get the prosecution witnesses who were billed for cross examination.

He further said that Mr Jacobs had told him that the witnesses, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the prosecuting agency, were writing examination.

Mr Omokore’s counsel, R. Lawal, SAN, confirmed that Jacobs had called him on the issue but decried the attitude of the EFCC since the trial commenced, describing it as unfortunate.

“Most of the adjournments granted by this court since this trial started, are at the instance of the prosecution; in fact, none of the defence lawyers has asked for an adjournment.”

He said that he contemplated asking the court to close the prosecution’s case but rather asked the court to order that the adjournment would be the last at the instance of the prosecution.

Counsel to the other defendants all aligned themselves with Lawal’s submission.

For more see: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/265604-court-threatens-to-close-1-6-billion-fraud-case-against-omokore-others.html

Justice Dimgba also said that he would not be averse to granting an application asking the court to close the prosecution’s case.

"I would have closed the case of the prosecution, but I will grant the prosecution one more indulgence,” he said.

He adjourned the matter until April 26 and 27 for the prosecution to call its witnesses.

Mr Jide Omokore is being prosecuted alongside Victor Briggs, former Managing Director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Abiye Membere, former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of NNPC.

Also standing trial with Omokore is David Mbanefo, former Manager, Planning and Commercial of NNPC, on a nine-count amended charge of criminal diversion of about $1.6 billion alleged to be proceeds of petroleum products belonging to the federal government.

Other defendants in the suit are two corporate entities, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited, allegedly owned by Omokore.

When will EFCC successfully prosecute and obtain convictions on these grave corruption cases?
The Diezani loot is one of the most celebrated by EFCC. A whooping $1.6 billion
No one should blame the judiciary here, it is clear EFCC is the one bungling the case.
Maybe we should begin to ask questions about the media frenzy and propaganda

Where is diezani in this whole drama?

Is the EFCC solely relying on witnesses to nail the alleged looters?
Has the EFCC done due diligence to obtain incontrovertible evidence, papers and proofs?
How did the EFCC arrive at the $1.6 bn figure? Is it on mere hearsay from the witnesses?
Mr Magu it is time to prove all the media allegations in court!
This administration may end without substantiating any of the humongous looting figures they have frightened us with!

APC,propaganda and lies,they have no evidence to pursue the case to conclusion.

God will punish anything that is remotely or closely related to this useless party.

They are associates. You need to research the case from the beginning. It is clear Diezani and associates have stolen from Nigeria but EFCC is bungling the case or something does not add up

tuniski:
Where is diezani in this whole drama?

"Dizieni and associates" is a political term use by buhari administration to involve dizieni into what is not connected to him.
There is nothing like that. It's either you charge Mr briggs for his stealing or whatever crime he committed.
Efcc has no case against dizieni.
No money has been fund in any bank that belongs to dizieni. No house house been traced to her directly. What do you mean by associates?

Propaganda and media trial is a trick by this evil government. For good three years, they have been fighting corruption with no single court conviction.

I thought with the way they were calling Diezani's name up and down, she would be in jail by now. Ikoyigate has also died down.

Shame on Buhari.

desmond2pk:
"Dizieni and associates" is a political term use by buhari administration to involve dizieni into what is not connected to him.
There is nothing like that. It's either you charge Mr briggs for his stealing or whatever crime he committed.
Efcc has no case against dizieni.
No money has been fund in any bank that belongs to dizieni. No house house been traced to her directly. What do you mean by associates?

Your assertions may be correct but there are links established even by US prosecutors.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/236970-u-s-prosecutors-expose-how-alison-madueke-omokore-aluko-blew-billions-on-lavish-lifestyle.html

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/alleged-corruption-im-ready-go-jail-diezani/
The phone conversation in the vanguard link is from US prosecutors so there is some lead

My concern is the theatrics in the whole anti corruption war. EFCC is just taking us for a ride
If this woman and associates will ever be nailed, it will not be in Nigeria. Ibori's case comes to mind

enlady:
They are associates. You need to research the case from the beginning. It is clear Diezani and associates have stolen from Nigeria but EFCC is bungling the case or something does not add up

You sit at home and declare that it is clear? How so? Exactly what facts and evidence are u privy to that are not before the court? Why is something so clear difficult to prove? Are u aware Diezani's name is not on the charge sheet and isn't part of those being prosecuted?
Sometimes we should be circumspect in making certain assertions.

Tomorrow they will say the judiciary is the headache and problem of the president then concoct another raiding scam (they dare not though). They will still accuse the defence of trying to scuttle the matter through frivolous applications and delay tactics now who is the failure here?

I just love Justice Nnamdi Dimgba. He doesn't spare dem EFCC and DSS with their gross ineptitude and that's why they tried to smear him by breaking into his house and attacking him even when it wasn't his name on their fake search warrants.

I base my assertion on certain points:
(1) If you study the 54 page US prosecutors report you would see the links to money laundering, bribery etc
(2) the case from the US angle makes more sense. EFCC is a joke
(3) James Ibori's case was squashed in Nigerian courts up to the level of the appeal court. However when the UK police was done with diligent investigation and arraigned him in court on 14 count charge, He pleaded guilty to 10 counts. Subsequently Ibori, his counsel and mistress were all convicted.
The UK has seized Diezani's passport since 2015. They are are still investigating. If (or when) they decide to arraign her in court, it will be with iron cast evidence. These clumsy runs by EFCC under Magu will lead us nowhere

freeze001:


You sit at home and declare that it is clear? How so? Exactly what facts and evidence are u privy to that are not before the court? Sometimes we should be circumspect in making certain assertions.

A govt that can't nail an easy corrupt target like Diezani in 3 years us that one a serious govt ?

Innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.

enlady:


Your assertions may be correct but there are links established even by US prosecutors.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/236970-u-s-prosecutors-expose-how-alison-madueke-omokore-aluko-blew-billions-on-lavish-lifestyle.html

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/alleged-corruption-im-ready-go-jail-diezani/
The phone conversation in the vanguard link is from US prosecutors so there is some lead

My concern is the theatrics in the whole anti corruption war. EFCC is just taking us for a ride
If this woman and associates will ever be nailed, it will not be in Nigeria. Ibori's case comes to mind

The US case is a civil case.

Interesting

enlady:
They are associates. You need to research the case from the beginning. It is clear Diezani and associates have stolen from Nigeria but EFCC is bungling the case or something does not add up

Oh associates! The accused don't include diezani yet, she must be headlined! Little Wonder the efcc has yet to convict anyone.
Even Dasuki in detention since 2015 they couldn't try, why?