$1.6bn crude oil fraud: EFCC’s failure to produce witness stalls Omokore ‘s trial

The prosecution’s failure to produce its witness before the Federal High Court, Abuja impeded progress yesterday in the trial of businessman, Jide Omokore and others for alleged diversion of $1.6bn proceeds of sales of Federal Government’s crude oil.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) is prosecuting Omokore, his two companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – and others on a nine-count charge of criminal diversion of about $1.6bn believed to be part of proceeds of sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

Also named as defendants in the case are a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company ( NNPC ), Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the NNPC, Abiye Membere and a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo.

 Former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was also named in the case until late last year when the court struck out her name on the ground that she was listed as a defendant.

On Wednesday, the 4th prosecution witness, a Senior Manager with Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Adedayo Adesanmi confirmed that the bank froze the accounts owned by two of Omokore’s companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – due to a worldwide freezing order.

He said:“The bank got a worldwide freezing order. There were also negative press generated by the accounts and frequent invitation from security agencies because of the accounts.”

The prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) was to call another witness yesterday when Jacobs expressed his regrets to the trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, over the failure of two scheduled witnesses to attend court on Thursday.

He said his two witnesses that were from Lagos, were unable to make it to court yesterday despite  earlier assurances that they will attend court.

Jacobs said one of the two witnesses was an investigative officer in the case, but was recently transferred from Abuja to Lagos.

The trail judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba was uncomfortable with the turn of event and the prosecution’s failure to produce its witness.

The judge noted that the prosecution had been dilligent in its handling of the case, but insisted that it must continue with the case.

The judge suggested standing down the case for the witnesses to arrive to allow for progress in the case.

At that point defence lawyers, including R.A Rabana-Lawal (SAN), Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN) and Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) said Jacobs had explained his difficulty to them before the commencement of proceedings.

In view of the non-aversion of the defence to an adjournment, Justice Dimgba  reluctantly adjourned to March 1 and 2.

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