Oronsaye pleads not guilty to new fraud charges
Former Head of Service of the Federation Steve Oronsaye, has pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of corruption and obtaining by false pretense.
Oronsaye was formally arraigned by the Economic and Finacial Crime Commission (EFCC) before Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday.
Oronsaye, who was already being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 24-count charge of money laundering, was re-arrested last Tuesday based on fresh evidence.
The EFCC in a statement alleged that Oronsaye “abused his position as chair of the Presidential Committee on the Financial Action Task Force to fraudulently obtain a total sum of N190million, being part of the N240m grant which the Committee received from the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
The new charges were read the to the defendant in court, with the counsel to the EFCC claiming that the fresh evidence was obtained on February 24, 2016.
The fresh charges read: “That Mr. Steve Oronsaye, on or about June 12, 2013, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, whilst being the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force and in such a capacity entrusted with certain property to wit: the sum of N90 million, committed a breach of trust in respect of the said sum by converting it to your personal use through the investment of the said sum in Access Bank Plc’s Bankers Acceptance for a period of 90 days at 9.0 per cent interest rate in violation of the extant financial regulations.
“That Mr. Steve Oronsaye, on or about December 30, 2014, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, whilst being the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force and in such a capacity entrusted with certain property to wit: the sum of N100 million, committed a breach of trust in respect of the said sum by converting it to your personal use through the investment of the said sum of N90m in Access Bank Plc’s Bankers Acceptance for a period of 90 days at 12.0 per cent interest rate in violation of the extant financial regulations”.
Justice Goodluck stood down the trial for one hour to enable the EFCC prepare its case.
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1 Comments
EFCC please we need just a single conviction. else we think you should stop and overhaul your system to enable quick dispensation of justice. else all you are doing could just be drama
We will review and take appropriate action.