In our review of high profile corruption trials today, a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Osagiede Oronsaye, was accused of N190 million corruption charges and N6.2 billion fraud respectively.
Also, a former Director of Pensions Account, Dr Sani Shuaibu Teidi, and a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Temisan Omatseye, are collectively accused of embezzling over N4.56 billion and N1.5 billion from the federal coffers.
Read on:
Steve Orosanye – N190 million fraud
The FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday May 9, 2017, discharged Oronsaye of the N190 million corruption charges leveled against him. The judge ruled that the prosecution failed to establish its case against him.
Steve Orosanye, a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, had faced trial for corrupt practices during his tenure as the Head of Service of the Federation.
He was granted bail on self-recognition by a Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital in July 2015.
Oronsaye, who was charged along with two others, was asked to deposit his travel documents with the court to fully secure his bail.
Again, the EFCC on March 8, 2016 rearrested Oronsaye for alleged corruption and obtaining money by false pretense, otherwise known as 419.
The rearrest came about eight months after a federal court in Abuja ordered him released from detention after he was docked for alleged N6.2 billion fraud.
Mr. Oronsaye who is already being prosecuted by the EFCC on 24-count charge of money laundering before a Federal High Court, Abuja, is alleged to have abused his position as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force.
He reportedly obtained a sum of N240 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria in the guise of assistance to the committee without the knowledge of other committee members and proceeded to convert the said sum to his personal use.
On May 18, 2016, the EFCC amended the charges against Oronsaya on a fresh 35-count charge over alleged fraud and money laundering offences in the biometric data contract award to various companies during his tenure in 2010.
Those who took plea with him include: Osarenkhoe Afe, Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Global Services Limited, Cluster Logistics Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment and Construction Company Limited.
Case closed.
Sani Teidi Shaibu – N4.56 billion fraud
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, on June 7, 2013, remanded Dr Sani Shuaibu Teidi, former Director of Pensions Account, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, in Kuje prison custody pending hearing on his bail application fixed for July 18, 2013.
Teidi’s remand followed his re- arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside one Udusegbe Eric Omoefe and their companies, on a 22- count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretense, conspiracy to commit fraud and concealing the illicit origin of stolen pension fund totaling over 18.3 billion naira.
The companies are: Gozinda Enterprises, Bashinta Nigeria Limited, Haleath Enterprises, Uthatak Nigeria Limited, Krasiva Nigeria Limited, Badawulu Ventures Limited, Ebunu Attah Investment, Muha Millennium Motors Limited and Ribaile Petroleum Limited.
The accused were first arraigned on March 24, 2011, on a 134-count charge for allegedly defrauding the Pensions Account, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, of billions of naira.
The EFCC seized six properties belonging to Sani Teidi Shuaibu in 2011.
The court also granted an order permitting the Executive Chairman of the EFCC to seize and retain custody of all the properties or assets of persons (as listed in the attached schedules) though not yet charged but found to be connected with the transaction or allegation contained in charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/28/2011.
Some of the properties belonging to Mr Shuaibu which the court asked the EFCC to seize include:
(a) No 24, Ahmadu Musa Crescent, Jabi, Abuja;
(b) Brefina Hotel at plot 1106, (Beside MTN) warehouse, adjacent to Vines Hotel, Durumi, Abuja;
(c) Ahouse at No 1, Shuaibu Close, opposite Governor’s House, Idah;
(d) Riba-ile Petroleum Ltd;
(e) M.R.S Ajaka (registered as Riba-Ile oil Ltd);
(f) M.R.S Idah station, Idah, registered with Hammo oil, Nigeria;
(g) NNPC Mega station, Idah junction, Ayingba, registered with Hammo Oil, Nig. Ltd. No update is available on the current status of case.
Temisan Omatseye – N1.5 billion contract scam
Temisan Omatseye, a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), was prosecuted at the Federal High Court, FCT, Abuja in 2011, with Suit No: FHC/L/482C/2010.
He faced offences under the Public Procurement Act.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had on Thursday February 3, 2011 arraigned Temisan Omatseye, before a Federal High Court in Lagos on a-27 count charge before Justice Binta Nyako for offences that border on contract splitting, illegal transfer of fund and unlawful approvals.
Omatseye was on May 20, 2016 sentenced to five years jail term by Justice Rita Ofili- Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in a landmark ruling.
He was convicted on 25 of the 27-count charge bordering on alleged contract variation, bid rigging and awarding contract above his approval limit which violates the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on May 11, 2017 discharged and acquitted Omatseye.
The presiding judge, Justice Yargata Nimpar set aside the May 20, 2016 judgment that was delivered by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia which convicted Omatseye on a 27- count charge bordering on bid rigging and contract splitting.
It said that the trial court did not properly evaluate the evidence. Case closed.
Read also:
High profile corruption: How Alao-Akala, Sani Lulu reportedly ran down Oyo State, NFF respectively
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[This Publication includes part of a compendium by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) covering corruption cases as at 22nd of November, 2019.