The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja an ally of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Mr. Jide Omokore on nine counts of alleged $1.6bn crude oil fraud.
Alison-Madueke, still at large, was not listed as an accused person in the charges, but her name was mentioned in one of the counts as having committed the alleged fraud with Omokore and the other co-accused persons.
However, on the insistence of the court on Monday, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), removed the former minister’s name and that of a businessman, Kolawole Aluko, from the count.
The prosecution, in the case named Alison-Madueke (said to be at large) in count 8, accusing her of “abetting the commission of money laundering,” committed by those listed as defendants in the charge.
Aluko, also said to be at large, was named as engaging in conspiracy, money laundering and fraud in the said count.
The judge agreed but added that since Alison-Madueke and Aluko were not duly served with the charges and they were brought to court, their names should not to appear in any of the counts.
She then struck out the two names from the count upon Jacobs’ application.
After Alison-Madueke’s and Aluko’s names were removed from the count 8, the charges were read to Omokore and his co-accused persons.
They all pleaded not guilty to the nine counts.
Those arraigned along with Omokore were a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, Victor Briggs, a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Abiye Membere and a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo.
Two other companies linked with Omokore – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – were also arraigned along with them.
They were arraigned on nine counts of obtaining under false pretences and engaging in money laundering to the tune of about $1,646,140,379.90.
Omokore is accused of using the Strategic Alliance Agreement, signed between the NPDC and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, to defraud the NPDC and the Nigerian government of monies running into billions of dollars through the lifting of crude oil from some oil wells between March, 2013 and May, 2014.
The other accused persons, who were senior management staff of the NNPC, are accused of conspiracy in inducing the NPDC to facilitate the lifting of crude by Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited.
It is also alleged that they received car gifts from Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited.
Justice Nyako granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N50m each with a surety each after hearing the accused of persons’ bail applications.
The sureties must either be a director in the Federal Civil Service or must have a landed property in the jurisdiction of the court.
She then adjourned till October 19 for the commencement of trial.
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