The Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling
Concept Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jide Omokore, has returned N200m to the
Federal Government, From what Fidelis Chidi blog learnt
It was learnt that the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission has also traced and frozen eight bank
accounts allegedly belonging to Omokore.
Reliable sources in the commission told
our correspondent that the eight accounts were opened at different
branches of Skye Bank Plc.
Omokore, who is an ally of the immediate
past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, among
five others, are currently standing trial before a Federal High Court
for an alleged $800m (N247bn at an exchange rate of N309/$1) fraud.
A top source at the commission said,
“During investigations, we traced about eight accounts to Omokore in
Skye Bank. Most of the accounts are company accounts. Some were
domiciled in Marina, Adeola Hopewell and some other branches on the
(Lagos) Island.
“We were able to identify about N200m.
He raised some bank drafts in the name of the Federal Government and the
money has been deposited into the Federal Government account while
investigations continue.”
The commission had on Monday, July 4,
2016, arraigned Omokore, and five other individuals and firms, before
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja on nine counts
bordering on money laundering and procurement fraud.
Those arraigned with him were a former
Managing Director of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited,
Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and
Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Abiye
Membere; a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David
Mbanefo ; Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy
Drilling Concepts Limited.
Omokore was alleged to have used the
Strategic Alliance Agreement signed between the NPDC and Atlantic Energy
Drilling Concept Limited to swindle the NPDC and the Nigerian
government of billions of naira through the lifting of crude oil from
some oil wells between March 2013 and May 2014.
The other accused persons, who were
senior management employees of the NNPC, were 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.
They were equally charged with receiving
car gifts from Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and
Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited.
The charge read in part, “That you,
Olajide Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy
Drilling Concept Ltd and Kolawole Akanni Aluko (now at large) between
May 2013 and March 2014 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court
obtained by false pretences and with intent to defraud, 7,551,867
barrels of crude oil (Brass blend) valued at the sum of $823,75,189.95
from NPDC, NNPC and the Federal Government of Nigeria on the false
pretences that you had funds (both local and foreign) necessary to
support the NPDC in petroleum operation for the OML 60,61, 62 and 63 and
you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the
Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act Cap. A6, 2010,
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and punishable under Section 1(3) of
the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
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