The Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept
Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jide Omokore, has returned N200m to the Federal
Government, Sunday PUNCH has 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.
Punch
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