Why we froze Omokore’s firms accounts, by bank

A bank official yesterday told a Federal High Court in Abuja why businessman Jide Omokore could no longer access the accounts of his companies in the bank.

The bank said it stopped transactions on the accounts in view of “a worldwide freezing order” placed on the accounts into which $1.6bn proceeds of sales of Federal Government’s crude oil were allegedly diverted.

A Senior Manager with Stanbic IBTC Bank and the Relationship Manager for the accounts owned by two of Omokore’s companies, Adedayo  Adesanmi said this yesterday while testifying as the fourth prosecution witness in the trial of Omokore and others.

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

The trial continues today.

 

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