Omokore, others docked for illegal oil deals, get N200m bail

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, arraigned an acclaimed ally of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Mr. Jide Omokore, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Also arraigned with Omokore were the former Managing Director of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, Victor Briggs, former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of NNPC, Abiye Membere; and former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo.

Two companies, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited were also charged along with the accused persons who pleaded not guilty to the nine-count charge preferred against them by the anti-graft agency.

Following their plea, the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N50m each with a surety, who must either be a senior civil servant or have a landed property.

Justice Nyako ordered that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means, while the defendants must deposit their international passports and other travelling documents with the court.

The EFCC claims in one charges against the defendants ; One of the charge against the defendants read: “That you, Olajide Jones Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Ltd and Kolawole Akanni Aluko (now at large) between May and October, 2013, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, induced the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Government of Nigeria to deliver to you 5, 652, 227 barrels of crude oil (Brass blend) valued at the sum of US $ 616, 013, 615.27, through the medium of contact (Strategic Alliance Agreement) which delivery was induced by false pretence to wit: the representation that you have technical competence, professional skills and funds (both local and foreign) necessary to support NPDC in petroleum operation for the OML 60, 62, 62 and 63 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act CAP A6 2010 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.’’

Earlier, Mr. Rafiu Lawal Rabana SAN, counsel to Jide Omokore had sought to delay the trial by arguing that one of the accused persons, Kolawole Akanni Aluko was not in court.

He contended that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, all the defendants in a case must be served with the charges and be physically present in court before arraignment could take place.

However, lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN countered that “Aluko is in Europe. We could not even take his statement, yet they want us to serve him along with others so that they could create a lacuna. The plea of those present in court should be taken.”

He subsequently applied and got the judge's permission to strike out Aluko's name from the charges.

“Anytime we get him, the charges could be amended,” he said.