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Tag: Jide Omokore

  • $1.6bn crude oil fraud: EFCC’s failure to produce witness stalls Omokore ‘s trial

    $1.6bn crude oil fraud: EFCC’s failure to produce witness stalls Omokore ‘s trial

    The prosecution’s failure to produce its witness before the Federal High Court, Abuja impeded progress yesterday in the trial of businessman, Jide Omokore and others for alleged diversion of $1.6bn proceeds of sales of Federal Government’s crude oil.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) is prosecuting Omokore, his two companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – and others on a nine-count charge of criminal diversion of about $1.6bn believed to be part of proceeds of sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

    Also named as defendants in the case are a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company ( NNPC ), Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the NNPC, Abiye Membere and a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo.

     Former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was also named in the case until late last year when the court struck out her name on the ground that she was listed as a defendant.

    On Wednesday, the 4th prosecution witness, a Senior Manager with Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Adedayo Adesanmi confirmed that the bank froze the accounts owned by two of Omokore’s companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – due to a worldwide freezing order.

    He said:“The bank got a worldwide freezing order. There were also negative press generated by the accounts and frequent invitation from security agencies because of the accounts.”

    The prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) was to call another witness yesterday when Jacobs expressed his regrets to the trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, over the failure of two scheduled witnesses to attend court on Thursday.

    He said his two witnesses that were from Lagos, were unable to make it to court yesterday despite  earlier assurances that they will attend court.

    Jacobs said one of the two witnesses was an investigative officer in the case, but was recently transferred from Abuja to Lagos.

    The trail judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba was uncomfortable with the turn of event and the prosecution’s failure to produce its witness.

    The judge noted that the prosecution had been dilligent in its handling of the case, but insisted that it must continue with the case.

    The judge suggested standing down the case for the witnesses to arrive to allow for progress in the case.

    At that point defence lawyers, including R.A Rabana-Lawal (SAN), Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN) and Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) said Jacobs had explained his difficulty to them before the commencement of proceedings.

    In view of the non-aversion of the defence to an adjournment, Justice Dimgba  reluctantly adjourned to March 1 and 2.

  • Why we froze Omokore’s firms accounts, by bank

    Why we froze Omokore’s firms accounts, by bank

    A bank official yesterday told a Federal High Court in Abuja why businessman Jide Omokore could no longer access the accounts of his companies in the bank.

    The bank said it stopped transactions on the accounts in view of “a worldwide freezing order” placed on the accounts into which $1.6bn proceeds of sales of Federal Government’s crude oil were allegedly diverted.

    A Senior Manager with Stanbic IBTC Bank and the Relationship Manager for the accounts owned by two of Omokore’s companies, Adedayo  Adesanmi said this yesterday while testifying as the fourth prosecution witness in the trial of Omokore and others.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Omokore, his two companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – and others on a nine-count charge of criminal diversion of about $1.6bn believed to be part of proceeds of sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

    Also named as defendants in the case are a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NNPC), Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the NNPC Abiye Membere and a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC David Mbanefo.

    Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was also named in the case until late last year when the court struck out her name on the grounds that she was listed as a defendant.

    The trial continues today.

     

  • Why we froze Omokore’s firms’ accounts – Stanbic IBTC

    Why we froze Omokore’s firms’ accounts – Stanbic IBTC

    Stanbic IBTC Plc told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday why businessman, Jide Omokore, could no longer access his companies’ accounts held in the bank.

    The bank said it stopped transactions on the accounts because of “a worldwide freezing order” placed on the accounts where $1.6billion proceeds of crude oil sales were allegedly diverted.

    A Senior Manager with the bank, Adedayo Adesanmi, stated these while testifying as fourth prosecution witness at the resumption of the trial involving Omokore and others.

    Adesanmi is also the Relationship Manager for the accounts owned by Omokore’s companies.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Omokore, his two companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – and others on a nine-count charge of criminal diversion of about $1.6billion believed to be part of proceeds of sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

    Also named as defendants in the case are – former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Abiye Membere and a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo.

    Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, was also named in the case until late last year when the court struck out her name on the ground that she was listed as a defendant.

    Led in evidence by lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Adesanmi said both companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – maintain a naira and a dollar accounts with his bank.

    He explained how the funds were paid into separate dollars accounts of the two companies by Glencore, London.

    Under re-examination, by Jacobs, the witness explained why the accounts were closed.

    He said: “The bank got a worldwide freezing order. There were also negative press generated by the accounts and frequent invitation from security agencies because of the accounts.”

     

     

     

     

  • Hearing stalled in Diezani’s property forfeiture case

    Hearing stalled in Diezani’s property forfeiture case

    The hearing of an application to forfeit two penthouses valued at $4.760million allegedly belonging to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, was stalled at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday.

    The applicant, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the respondents were not represented in court when the case was called for hearing before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.

    A new date of February 12 next year has been fixed for the hearing.

    The court had on December 5 ordered the temporary forfeiture of Penthouse 21, Building 5, Block C, 11th floor (Bella Vista Estate) Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, and Penthouse 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate), also in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    EFCC said the properties were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with “proceeds of crime.”

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke, Donald Amangbo, Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Property Limited are the respondents.

    The Commission said the companies in whose names the properties were acquired belong to the former minister.

    An investigator, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who deposed to a supporting affidavit to the ex-parte motion, said sometime in 2016, a search warrant was executed at Amangbo’s premises.

    He said Amangbo was “an acquaintance of Mrs. Alison Madueke.”

    The investigator said one of the documents recovered from Amamgbo led the operatives to the Deputy Managing Director of YF Construction Development and Real Estate Limited, Mr. Fadi Basbous.

    The deponent said Basbous made a statement where he said the two properties were sold at $3.570million and $1.194 million and are owned by Sequoyah Properties Limited and Schillenburg LLC.

    Bawa said the properties were paid for by Mrs. Angela Jide-Jones and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited.

    According to him, Mrs. Jide-Jones was married to Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s associate, Jide Omokore, who registered and promoted Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept.

    The EFCC investigator said Omokore paid for the properties through his wife, Angela.

     

     

  • $1.8bn oil debt: Court to hear FG’s suit against Omokore, Aluko Nov. 23

    $1.8bn oil debt: Court to hear FG’s suit against Omokore, Aluko Nov. 23

    A Federal High Court in Lagos will resume hearing of Federal Government’s suit seeking recovery of 1.8 billion dollars from two oil firms in Nigeria on Nov. 23.

    The companies are Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nig. Ltd, ( AEDC ) and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd  ( AEBD ).

    Joined as co-defendants in the suit are; Jide Omokore and Kolawole Aluko, Chairman and Director of the two companies, respectively.

    The case, earlier slated for Friday was further adjourned till Nov. 23.

    Although, the trial judge, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, had sat in the morning to deliver rulings, and entertain some matters, the court, however, rose, as she had to be away on official assignment.

    In the suit, Omokore, Aluko and the two companies, are said to owe the Federal Government, approximately 1.8 billion dollars for crude oil lifted under a Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAT) between them.

    The government had sometimes in 2016, alongside the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Ltd (NPDC) and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ), dragged the defendants to court.

    Government had urged the court to restrain the defendants and their agents from demanding or receiving payments from 19 commercial banks in Nigeria, eight offshore banks, and eight other companies listed before the court.

    The applicants in an affidavit sworn to by one Mr Kehinde Oginni, averred that Omokore, Aluko and the two companies are indebted to government.

    He averred that the defendants by virtue of the SAT agreement were granted licence to lift crude oil and other associated products in Nigeria for sale and for parties to share the profits in agreed terms.

    He averred that the defendants lifted and sold the crude oil and have been paid, but deliberately, refused to pay the government, and unlawfully diverted the profits share of 1.8 billion dollars due to the government to their private use.

    The deponent listed the diversions as follows:

    “Several vehicles with combined value of over N800 million were purchased by the defendants and donated to the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) through its National Chairman, Prince Secondus.

    “Additional vehicles valued at over N130 million were purchased by the defendants and distributed to former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Dieziani Alison-Maduekwe, and some other managerial staff of NPDC.”

    He also stated that 18 million dollars and N1.1 million were paid to FBN Mortgages Ltd by Aluko as part payment for Block A, consisting of 26 Flats at 46 Gerrard Road Ikoyi Lagos purchased at a total cost of N5 billion

    The deponent also stated that payment of 25 million dollars and N95 million were made to Real Bank for the purpose of part financing the acquisition of AEDC and AEBD companies’ property as well as renovation of some properties.

    The deponent had consequently urged the court, to issue a Mareva Order, restraining the defendants from dissipating all known assets directly or indirectly, including but not limited to assets listed on the face of the motion paper before the court.

    After hearing the submission of applicant’s counsel, Justice Oguntoyinbo had issued an order restraining the defendants and their agents from transacting with the assets of the defendants in banks, houses, land and shares in Nigeria and others located outside Nigeria.

    The banks were ordered to sequestrate all monies and negotiable instruments standing to the credit of the defendants in the sum of 1.8 billion dollars, and keep same in an interest yielding account, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    The court had also ordered that the ruling should be served on the affected parties through advertisement in Newspapers circulating within and outside the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, the defendants had appealed the ruling and filed a motion seeking a stay of proceedings in the suit.

    Apart from the pending application for stay, there is also a pending application filed by a Limited Liability Company, Virtual Properties and Investment Ltd as an intervener.

    The intervener is urging the court to discharge or vary its order, as it relates to Marion Apartments, on the grounds that the property known as Marion Apartments consists of 56 apartments owned and developed by the intervener.

    It added that by virtue of two separate deeds of sublease, the intervener conveyed its interest in 43 out of the 56 apartments to Realblanc Energy Engineering Ltd, an affiliate company of the defendants.

    The intervener says it still retains ownership of 13 out of the 56 apartments in Marion Apartments.

    It avers, therefore, that the order of the court is prejudicial to its interest, and interferes with its right of ownership over these flats.

    NAN

  • ‘How Aluko, Omokore laundered $1.76b stolen from NNPC’

    ‘How Aluko, Omokore laundered $1.76b stolen from NNPC’

    Court papers  in Lagos Nigeria have detailed how oil businessmen, Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Jide Omokore laundered  the $1.7 billion creamed off the questionable oil swap transactions between them and the NNPC, during the tenure of Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Some of the money laundered through the United States and which had been used to acquire assets are now the subject of a forfeiture bid by the United States Justice Department. But the filings in a Lagos court have provided the most insightful details yet into how the entire money was laundered, while the Nigerian treasury was left dry and emasculated.

    According to an affidavit sworn  at the Federal High Court by Isaac Kehinde Oginni, a lawyer in the Federal Ministry of Justice, both Aluko and Omokore lifted and sold allotted Nigeria’s crude oil. While they were paid for their service,  they deliberately diverted to private use, what was due to the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria,  in the sum of $1,762,338,184.40.

    *They bought vehicles  with a combined value of over N800million and donated them to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through its then  National chairman Prince Secondus.

    *They also bought  vehicles valued at over N130million and gave them as gifts to former minister of Petroleum,  Mrs Dieziani Alison-Madueke and some other management staff of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

    *Kolawole Aluko paid $18,548,619.99 and N1,070,000,000  to FBN Mortgages Limited  as part payment for block A consisting of 26 Flats at 46 Gerrard Road Ikoyi Lagos. The block was bought for a total cost of N5,210,520,315.

    *Payment of a total sum of $25,839,606.77and N95,000,000 was made to Real Bank for the purpose of part financing the acquisition and renovation of properties by  the Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited (AEDC) and Atlantic Energy Brass Development limited (AEBD). The Properties are: Mason apartments  at 6 Gerrard Road Ikoyi Lagos comprising 60 units of 3 bedrooms apartment valued at $78,000,000, Marion apartments Block 8 located at 4&5,Onikoyi Estate, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos consisting of 43 units of apartments valued at $76,160,000,  apartments  at 33A Cooper Road Ikoyi, Lagos renovated at a total cost of $4,937,750,  Admiralty Towers at 8 Gerrard Road Ikoyi, Lagos., which was also renovated.

    The two businessmen also transferred $69,912,981.15  to the following companies ;Mia Hotels Limited, First Motors Limited, V.I.Petrochemicals, Evergreen Reality &Management, WIz Trade limited, DE First Union Integrated Services and Amity Plus limited.

    Mr Ogini also averred that Kolawole Aluko literally took residence outside the shores of Nigeria, to embark on a spending spree and assets acquisition in Britain, Canada, United States and Switzerland.

    Among the assets acquired were houses at: Grove End Road, London NW;   755 Sarbone Road, Los Angeles;952 North Alpine drive Los Angeles;815 Cima Del Mundo. He also bought land at  807 Coma Del Mundo in Los Angeles.

    Aluko also bought houses or apartments at 1049 Fifth Avenue, New York, 1948&1952 Tolls Avenue, Santa Barbara, 157 West 57th St,New York , 4100 Let Revenge, Dubai. In Nigeria , he bought Avenue Towers in Lagos. He also bought a piece of  land in Mont Tremblat, Canada and a property at Colina D’oro Montagnola, Switzerland

    After hiding his loot in many assets, he also bought the luxury $80million yacht, the Galactica Star,  58 exotic cars, expensive watches, private jets, Global Express  S5-GMG and a Bombardier Global 6000 9H-OPE.

    Cash found in his bank accounts, according to documents before the court are:  LDT Switzerland -$25million, Corner Bank, Lugano, Switzerland -$ 1million, Deutsche Bank, Geneva -$40million, HSBC London $175,000.

    He also had 75% shareholding in Atlantic Energy Drilling concepts  Nigeria and Atlantic Energy Brass Development and 10% Shareholding in Seven Energy.

    The case came before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos state last Friday, incidentally the same day the US Justice Department filed a forfeiture bid at a court in Houston.

    The Nigerian  judge adjourned hearing  till 29th of September, 2017 to decide whether to stay proceeding in tune with an application filed by the defendants  or continue with the case.

    The Federal Republic of Nigerian and two of its agencies are the plaintiffs and they are ranged against Aluko and Jide Omokore’s  Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited (AEDC) and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited (AEBD). The Nigerian government wants to recover $1.76 billion from the businessmen and their companies.  Omokore is the chairman of the companies, while Kolawole Aluko is a Director.

    Apart from Aluko and Omokore’s application, a limited liability company Virtual Properties and Investment Limited, has also filed another application as an intervener.

    The company is urging the court to discharge or vary its order,as it relates to Marion Apartments, on the ground that the property located at Block 8 Plots 4&5 Onikoyi Estate, Banana Island, Ikoyi consists of 56 apartments owned and developed by the intervener.

    By virtue of two separate deeds of sublease,  the intervener said it  conveyed its interest in 43 out of the 56 apartments to Realblanc Energy Engineering limited, an affiliate of the defendants.

    The intervener  contends that it still retains ownership of  13 out of the 56 apartments in Marion Apartments. It says that the order of the court is prejudicial to its interest and interferes with its right ownership over these flats.

    Last year, the Nigerian government had frozen the accounts of the defendants in 19  banks in Nigeria and  eight  offshore banks.

    This was sequel to the affidavit deposed  by Oginni of  the Federal ministry of Justice  in Abuja and filed by a Lagos lawyer Oladipo Okpeseyi SAN.

    The court was urged as a matter of utmost urgency and public interest, in aid of administration of justice to issue a  worldwide Mareva order restraining the defendants from dissipating all  known assets directly or indirectly by the defendants including but not limited to assets listed on the face of the motion paper filed before the court.

    After hearing the submission of Okpeseyi, counsel to the Federal Government, Justice  Oguntoyinbo restrained the defendants and their agents from demanding, receiving, transacting, mortgaging or whatsoever dealing in any manners with the assets of the defendants in banks, houses, land and shares in Nigeria and others located outside Nigeria ,while the Nigerian banks listed in the motion papers were ordered to within 7days to sequestrate all money and negotiable instruments standing to the credit of the defendants in the sum of $1,762,338,184.40 and keep same in an interest yielding account in the name of the Chief Registrar of the court as trustee of same pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    The court also ordered that its ruling should be served on the affected parties by way of  advertisement in newspapers circulating within and outside the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • $1.6bn fraud: Judge rejects request to dismiss cases against Omokore, others

    $1.6bn fraud: Judge rejects request to dismiss cases against Omokore, others

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown out an application seeking, among others, the dismissal of a $1.6bn fraud charge brought against a businessman, Jide Omokore and five others.

    Omokore is being tried with Victor Briggs, David Mbanefo, Abiye Membere and two firms linked to Omokore – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – on a nine-count, in which they are accused of engaging in criminal diversion of about $1.6bn said to be part of proceeds from the sale of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

    They alleged offences are said to be contrary to section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

    The application thrown out by the judge Thursday was argued for Member by his lawyer, Folabi Kuti, who urged the court to dismiss the charge and setting aside the proceedings, or alternatively, strike out an additional proof of evidence dated June 9, 2017, filed by the prosecution on June 17 this year, containing a witness’ statement dated June 7, 2017.

    Kuti had, while arguing the application Thursday, contended that the act of the prosecution constituted an abuse of court process and negated the principle of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. He said what the prosecution filed; in the real sense of it was not an additional proof of evidence, but a statement of a witness obtained only on June 7, 2017.

    He contended that the witness’ statement obtained after the prosecution had called two witnesses showed that investigation of the case was ongoing contrary to the provisions of the ACJA and Rule 3 of the Federal High Court’s Practice Direction on criminal matters.

    He added: “As of the time this trial was going on investigation had not been concluded.

    “The resulting effect is that the applicant has not been afforded the opportunity to know which case he is coming to face.”

    Other defence lawyers did not file any process either for or against the application, and only said on Thursday that they would leave the decision to the judge’s discretion.

    Responding, lead prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) argued that the application was “based on a false premise”.

    He noted that the purpose of front-loading the documents to be used by the prosecution was merely to bring the case of the prosecution to the attention of the defendant in line with section 36(6) of the Constitution.

    He maintained that by virtue of section 379(2) of ACJA, the prosecution was entitled to file an additional proof of evidence at any stage of the trial.

    He added that even if the practice direction had supported Membere’s contention, the practice direction, a directive by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, could not override the provision of ACJA which is an Act of the parliament.

    Justice Dimgba, in a bench ruling, upheld Jacobs’ argument and dismissed Membere’s application. He noted that the jurisdiction to hear a criminal case was donated to the court by the statues prescribing the offences on which the defendants were being tried and not the practice direction.

    Justice Dimgba said by virtue of the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related Offences Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, the court had been conferred with the jurisdiction to hear the case which involved the offences of advance free fraud and money laundering preferred against the defendants.

    He also held that Section 379(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, cited by the applicant, allowed the prosecution to file an additional proof of evidence at any stage in a trial.

    He added that the law did not limit the prosecution to a particular type of additional evidence, either documentary or oral, that could be filed in court in the course of the trial.

    He held that to interpret the laws “as construed” by the defendant would violate Section 379(2) of ACJA and will create a “judicial clog” in the prosecution procedure created by the law.

    He added that the remedy available to the defendants was not to ask for the dismissal of the charge, but to request more time to enable him study the newly filed documents.

    The judge adjourned to July 5 for continuation of trial.

  • Court refuses to quash fraud charges against Omokore, others

    Court refuses to quash fraud charges against Omokore, others

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday rejected an application seeking the dismissal of the $1.6bn fraud charges filed against the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, Jide Omokore and others.

    Omokorie, a friend of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and five others were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a nine-count amended charge of criminal diversion of about $1.6 billion belonging to the Federal Government.

    The other accused persons are – Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

    Details later…

  • $1.6bn fraud: Again court grants Diezani-Madueke’s aide permission to travel abroad

    $1.6bn fraud: Again court grants Diezani-Madueke’s aide permission to travel abroad

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, granted Jide Omokore, an aide to Alison Diezani-Madueke, the former Petroleum Minister, permission to travel abroad.

    Justice Dimgba had on April 26, 2017, granted Omokore permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    Omokore was arraigned alongside Victor Briggs, Abiye Memebre, and David Mbanefo, on an amended nine-count charge of diversion of money.

    The alleged diverted money was said to be part of the proceeds from the sale of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

    Two of Omokore’s companies, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited, and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited, were also joined as defendants.

    When the matter was called up for hearing, the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court of the new application filed by the defendant seeking for permission to travel.

    Jacobs did not oppose the application, stating that the defendant was granted a similar permission in April to travel for medical treatment and this is a follow up on the treatment.

    The prosecution, however, urged the court to make the defendant travel within the court’s long vacation, to last from July 10, 2017 to Sept. 10, 2017.

    He also informed the court of another application filled by the 5th defendant (Membere), challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

    Jacob said the application was on grounds that the prosecution filed additional proof of evidence, which would allow it call more witnesses, but he informed the court that he was yet to file his written address.

    The EFCC lawyer, therefore, sought for adjournment to enable him file his written address, opposing the application.

    Osahon Osiyinwen (SAN), counsel to Membere, said that with a new proof of evidence being filed there was need for the defendant to approach the court for interpretation.

    He added that the prosecution had to prove the need for the additional proof of evidence.

    Justice Dimgba in a short ruling, granted Omokore permission to travel on grounds that he must sign an undertaking to embark on the trip between July 11, and must be back before the court’s resumption on Sept. 10.

    The judge adjourned hearing on the application challenging its jurisdiction until June 22.

  • Court refuses to unfreeze Diezani’s associates’ assets

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has refused to unfreeze the assets and funds of businessmen Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore, who were linked to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    The Federal Government sued the duo over an alleged $1.8 billion debt.

    Their companies – Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited – were joined in the debt recovery action.

    The Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are the plaintiffs.

    Through their lawyer, Mr. Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), the  plaintiffs had in May obtained a mareva injunction freezing the defendants’ assets and funds both within and outside the country.

    The judge restrained the defendants and their privies from accessing their funds and assets both within and outside the country pending the determination of the suit.

    The defendants had, however, approached the court with an application, seeking to discharge the mareva injunction.

    The court dismissed the application, holding that the defendants’ assets and funds would remain frozen until the final determination of the substantive suit.

    The mareva injunction granted by the court is binding on all the local and foreign banks where the defendants were believed to have funds.