By Wandoo Sombo

The Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday,  sentenced AVM Tony Omenyi to seven years in prison for receiving N136 million bribe from Nigerian Air force, (NAF) contractors.

Delivering judgment, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, said that he was  satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case and  testimonies of its witnesses were not controverted.

NAN reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC),  arraigned Omenyi,  for receiving N136 million kick back from Syrius Technologies and Sky Experts Limited , two contractors of the Nigeria Air Force.

He was charged on  three counts  bordering on abuse of office and money laundering but pleaded not guilty.

“The court did not believe that the evidence given by Omenyi in his defence was credible.

“The defence was a sham,” the judge held.

The judge noted that if actually the money the defendant received from Mrs Theresa Etu, a NAF contractor was a refund as he claimed, the said expenditure should have had receipts to show for it.

“For example the N15 million he said he helped her pay for refueling of two aircraft, he should have received a receipt from those who refuelled but no receipt or invoice was tendered in court by the defence.”

The judge wondered what motivation the defendant had in expending his own money in executing a contract on behalf of a contractor.

He further noted that it was pertinent for a public office holder to operate at arms length with a contractor, particularly one that was working for the office in which he had due influence over.

 He further wondered how the defendant could claim to have made expenditure on behalf of Etu when he was a co-owner of the business she operated and her business partner.

The judge pronounced that:” In view of the above, I find the defendants guilty and convict them accordingly.

He sentenced the convict to seven years in prison on each of the three counts preferred against him to run concurrently with effect from Thursday.

He also ordered that the N62 million  recovered from him by the EFCC be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The judge further made an order that the convict’s company, which was the second defendant in the suit be wound up having being used as a conduit pipe to perpetrate economic fraud.

Omenyi had said in his defence that the monies he received from  Etu, were refunds for services he undertook on her behalf.

Counsel to the convict, Mr Gordy Uche had appealed to the judge to temper justice with mercy particularly since the convict was a first time offender and had  served the country meritoriously.

The Prosecutor, Mr Mohammed Abubakar confirmed that the agency had no record of a previous conviction.

He urged the court to, inline with Section 15(4) of the Money Laundering Act, make an order winding up the second defendant, since it was a company registered in Nigeria.

Omenyi, retired, was the former Managing Director of Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited (AETSL), a company owned by the Nigeria Air Force.

In the cause of the trial, the first prosecution witness, Mr Hassan Saidu, an EFCC Principal Detective, informed the court that the investigation of the defendant was triggered by a letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

He said that the letter had alleged that the defendant was operating suspicious accounts.

Source: https://www.nan.ng/lifestyle/avm-omenyi-goes-to-jail-for-receiving-n136m-bribe/

He was charged on  three counts  bordering on abuse of office and money laundering but pleaded not guilty.

Lol nobody in Nigeris pleads guilty no matter how much evidence stacks against them.

A whole Air Vice Marshal (AVM). Bribe kill you there

This nation must be cleansed.

We must experience equality in this nation.

When the rich smile, the poor must smile. And when they poor cries, the rich must cry.
Ameachi, in one of the leaked tapes by Omokiri, cried that his salary keeps getting slashed. That's equality

The children of hate will never see anything good in this.. Before now, retired Generals were untouchable.
Definitely, many more of this to come since baba doesn’t have second term to eorry about.

Shall all the looters of our collective wealth suffer same fate in the soonest possible time

first batch is gone
i know this second term will be crazy
[url=cotenant.com.ng]LOL[/url]

Sai baba.....mai gaskiya

This will serve as a lesson to others

For just N136million what the trillions in his account

Now that PMB has secured his 2nd term, Nigerians will experience the sweeping wind of real change.

I'm sure that all arm of government, particularly the judiciary, will have no choice but to fall in line and key into the governments agenda.

Oya Next level carry go

Edited; But seven years is too small na
What kinda nonsense is this

The crusade has started...

When are we going to hear names like ganduje,Musa, babagida etc... I mean core Moslem going to jail..

Tbh. Buhari is trying to eradicate this country from corruption.

Because his not a member of the APC pigs

If not let them jail Akpabio first

Good one..Kudos to the Judiciary.

Ganduje Next

Hahaha

puresaint:
When are we going to hear names like ganduje,Musa, babagida etc... I mean core Moslem going to jail..

I said it!
What shall it profit you to close your eyes to such progress all in the name of tribalism and utter hate? Why didn’t Jonathan jail any of them?

Collect 136m in bribe and go to jail for 7 years but defraud onyinbo 10m and go to jail for 26 years

He knew he took this bribe and he didn't join APC? his mumu too much joor

only southerners

And Gen. buratai case must not be swept under the carpet. Search light must be extended to others with no favour or tribal sentiment

This one self don move to NEXTLEVEL ( prison)

I feel it would be better if the forfeit 90% of their wealth/properties to FG or face firing squad.

The guys defense was very weak. I guess he couldn't afford better lawyers.

oginnade:
And Gen. buratai case must not be swept under the carpet. Search light must be extended to others with no favour or tribal sentiment

Bro

4 + 4 forever