$1.6bn fraud: EFCC arraigned Diezani’s ally, Omokore, ex-NNPC GMD

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja a businessman, Mr. Jide Omokore, who is also an ally of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on nine counts of alleged crude oil fraud involving $1.6bn.

Alison-Madueke, whom the prosecution stated was at large, was not listed as an accused person in the charges, but her name was mentioned in one of the counts as having perpetrated the alleged fraud alongside Omokore and the other listed co-accused persons.

But with the insistence of the court on Monday, the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), removed the former minister’s name and that of a businessman, Kolawole Aluko, from the count.

The prosecution, in the case numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/121/2016, named Alison-Madueke (said to be at large) in count 8, accusing her of “abetting the commission of money laundering,” committed by those listed as defendants in the charge.

Aluko, also said to be at large, was mentioned as engaging in conspiracy, money laundering and fraud in the said count.

The judge said since Alison-Madueke and Aluko were not served with the charges and they were not brought before the court, their names ought not to appear in any of the counts.

She then struck out the two names from the count upon Jacobs’ application.

Shortly after Alison-Madueke’s and Aluko’s names were removed from the count 8, the charges were read to Omokore and his co-accused persons.

They all pleaded not guilty to the nine counts.

$1.6bn fraud: EFCC arraigned Diezani’s ally, Omokore, ex-NNPC GMD