Diezani Alison-Madueke “at large” as EFCC re-arraigns 6 on diversion of $1.6 billion petroleum proceeds
Former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke was listed as being “at large” as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, November 21, re-arraigned six persons on a nine-count charge of criminal diversion of about $1.6 billion alleged to be proceeds of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.
Olajide Jones Omokore, the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, along with three others, Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo appeared before Justice Nnamdi Dimbga of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
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.
One of the counts accuses Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Ltd and Kolawole Akanni Aluko who is also at large, of an intent to defraud and induce the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Government of Nigeria to deliver to 5,652,227 barrels of crude oil 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 was induced under false pretence.
While another, count eight, accuses Victor Biggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo and Diezani Alison-Madueke of abetting the commission of money laundering by Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Ltd and Kolawole Akanni Aluko.
They were all charged of having committed “an offence contrary to section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
All pleaded “not guilty” to the charges read against them.
In view of their plea, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial, and to allow the defendants to enjoy the bail earlier granted them by Justice Binta Nyako, to which all defense counsels agreed.
Justice Dimgba subsequently fixed December 8, 2016 for the next hearing.
