Alleged N3.6Bn Fraud: EFCC Appeals Acquittal of Former NDDC Director, Omatsuli, Three Others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal, Lagos, seeking the setting aside of the judgment of Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos acquitting and discharging a former Executive Director of Projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli alongside Francis Momoh, Don Parker Properties Limited and Building Associates Limited over an alleged ₦3.6 billion fraud.

In a Notice of Appeal filed on Thursday, April 9, 2026, the EFCC, through its counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, SAN, faulted the judgment of the trial court and based its appeal at the Court of Appeal on seven grounds.

The Commission is also seeking reliefs set out in the Appeal.

Justice Osiagor on March 3, 2026 cleared all the four defendants of money laundering allegations stating that the prosecution did not sufficiently establish the offences contained in the 46-count charge filed against them by the EFCC, despite the volume of evidence presented during the retrial, including testimonies from 16 witnesses and 34 exhibits.

The 1st defendant had earlier been acquitted in 2020, at No- case submission while the court held that the other defendants alleged to have assisted him in laundering the funds were directed to enter their defences.

This prompted the EFCC to appeal to the Court of Appeal and the appellate court set aside the ruling of the trial court.

The court also dismissed the appeal of the other defendants who had also appealed against the ruling of the trial court which held that they had cases to answer.

In its judgment, the Court of Appeal found that the payment of the sum of N3, 645, 000,000.00 from Prosecuting Witness 4, PW4, who was a contractor to NDDC to the 1st defendant, Omatsuli, through his friend’s company, the Building Associates Ltd, the 4th defendant, amounted to an act of gratification for which the defendants needed to make explanations.

The court made references to the provisions of Section 8, 17, 19 of the ICPC Act and the 5th schedule to the Constitution.

The Notice of Appeal filed by the Commission alleged that the new trial Judge, Justice Osiagor who took over the proceeding following the retirement of the former trial Judge, Justice Saidu, relied on the record of the previous trial but disregarded the specific findings made by the Court of Appeal on the testimony of the prosecution witness.

It is the position of the Commission in its Notice of Appeal that the trial Judge, Osiagor did not properly evaluate the evidence before it.

That the trial judge misconceived the law and the evidence lead by both PW4 and PW15 during trial which showed that PW15 who was also a director at NDDC approached PW4, a contractor to the Commission, with the request to appreciate the members of the Board whenever PW4 was paid his fees by the Board so as to enable them sought out restive youths in the Niger Delta area.

Accordingly, PW4 paid money to members of the Board including the 1st defendant who received his own through the 4th defendant’s bank account.

The 1st defendant who was also a signatory to the account of NDDC upon receipt of the funds, applied most of the funds in the purchase of choice properties in Lagos in the name of the 2nd defendant which is his private company.

That the N3.6bn was never used for any youth- related matters. Infact, the properties acquired with the funds have been forfeited in a Non-conviction based asset forfeiture on the strength of the same evidence adduced during trial.

That the forfeiture was also affirmed by the Court of Appeal in the civil case.