Crimes

N2bn fraud: EFCC vows to appeal Oronsaye’s acquittal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it would appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which acquitted a former Head of the Civil Service (HoS) of the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye, of the N2bn money laundering charge preferred against him by the EFCC.

In dismissing the charge, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the EFCC failed to provide enough evidence to warrant Oronsaye’s conviction.

Oronsaye was arraigned alongside the Managing Director of Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Osarenkhoe Afe.

However, the EFCC, in a statement issued on Monday, June 5, by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said the judge erred by overlooking the evidence of the 21 witnesses called by the prosecution in the course of the and the confessional statement of Afe, adding that it would challenge the judgement at the Court of Appeal.

Oronsaye’s corruption trial commenced in 2015 when he was docked alongside Afe and three companies – Cluster Logistic Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited.

The 1st and 2nd defendants, had between 2010 and 2011, used the companies as vehicles to siphon public funds to the tune of N2 billion through contract fraud.

They were prosecuted on an amended 27–count charge.

The Star