The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arraigned Jide Omokore, and others on nine counts of criminal diversion of about $1.6bn alleged to be part of proceeds of the sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government. Jide Omokoare is a close ally of a former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Omokore was arraigned alongside Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy, Brass Development Limited, and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited. Another ally of Mrs Maduekwe, Kola Aluko, who is being charged along with Omokore, is still at large.
The court session, which took place on Monday, November 21, is part of the trial of Omokore and some other persons involved in a $1.6bn oil scam in which contract to supply petroleum products was awarded to the defendants but the product was not supplied.
Count one reads:
“That you Olajide Jones Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Ltd and Kolawole Akanni Aluko (now at large) between May and October 2013 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, induced the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Government of Nigeria to deliver to you 5,652,227 barrels of crude oil (Brass blend) amounting to the sum of US$616,013,615.27 (Six Hundred and Sixteen Million, Thirteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifteen US Dollars, Twenty Seven Cents) through the medium of contract, which delivery was induced by the false pretence to wit: that you had technical competence, professional skills and funds (both local and foreign) necessary to support NPDC in petroleum operation for the contract area and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act Cap. A6, 2010, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and punishment under section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After the arraignment on Monday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), urged the court to allow the defendants to enjoy the bail earlier granted them by Justice Binta Nyako.
He also urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
The defence team did not oppose Jacobs’ applications.
Justice Dimgba agreed and fixed December 8, 2016 for trial.
Omokore and his co-defendants were first arraigned before Justice Nyako, on July 4, 2016, but the case file was afterwards transferred to Justice Dimgba by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.