Managing Director of Atlantic Energy, Mr Jide Omokore has hit back at claims by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo that he and 2 others collaborated to make away with $3bn.
Osinbajo had stated that the money was stolen in the so- called NNPC Strategic Alliance Contracts to which Omokore, Kola Aluko and the former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison- Maduekwe were involved.
“The companies of both Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko lifted Nigerian crude oil and kept the proceeds” read a statement from the Vice-President.
According to Leadership Newspaper, Omokore, through his lawyer, Ralawal-Rabana (SAN) said that he would not go into full details of the matter but warned that Osinbajo not make disparaging statements against his client as the matter was a pending one and Omokore had not been found guilty.
‘’The relationship between Omokore’s company – Atlantic Energy with NNPC/NPDC is well documented as a commercial transaction of which there has been part performance. There is nothing illegal or fraudulent about the transaction.
‘’The matter is already before the court of law in a criminal proceeding yet to be concluded and there is no pronouncement of guilt or corruption against our client.
‘’The rule of law requires that a man is presumed innocent until adjudged guilty through a fair judicial process. Therefore, in this case, we wonder where the emphatic conclusion from the office of the Vice President came from.’’