EFCC Finalises Case In ex-NDDC ED, Tuoyo Omatsuli’s N3.6bn Bribery Trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday rested its case in the N3.6bn bribery trial of a former Executive Director, Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr Tuoyo Omatsuli.

Omatsuli, alongside Don Parker Properties Limited; Francis Momoh and Building Associates Limited, is facing 52 counts before the Federal High Court in Lagos.The defendants were first arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu in November 2018.At the Tuesday proceedings, following an amendment to the charges the defendants were re-arraigned.

The prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Ekene Iheanacho, thereafter announced the closure of his case after the court had taken the testimony of the 16th prosecution witness. 

Justice Saidu adjourned further proceedings in the matter till October 12 and 13, 2020.

In the charges, the EFCC alleged that Omatsuli and his co-defendants conspired to disguise the illegal origin of the N3.6bn “being proceeds of unlawful activity; to wit: corruption and gratification.”

The EFCC alleged that the N3.6bn was a bribe received by Omatsuli from Starline Consultancy Services Limited, a firm engaged by the NDDC to help it recover its statutory three per cent annual budgets of oil and gas producing companies in the Niger Delta.

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Iheanacho said Omatsuli and others acted contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and were liable to be punished under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the entire 52 counts.

The anti-graft agency had in December 2018 secured a permanent forfeiture order in respect of four landed properties at Lekki Peninsula Scheme, Lagos, belonging to Tuoyo Omatsuli said to be worth N846.03m.

(Punch)