The legal team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Friday, failed to honour an earlier order of the Court, directing it to file
clear fresh charges and evidences in the case of breach of trust preferred against Nigeria’s former head of Service, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, reports ITRealms.
Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Federal Capital Territory,
FCT, High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, had issued an order directing the EFCC
to file fresh charges and additional evidence in the suit, a directive the
Commission did not heed.
Upon resumed hearing Friday, Counsel to Mr. Oronsaye, Ade
Okeaya-Inne, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria drew the attention of the Court to
the flaws identified in the processes served.
“On the last adjourned date, the Court made an order that
clear copies be served. The copies served do not represent that order. We have
been served additional charges and two additional documents. They do not
represent the set of clear copies, as ordered,” he said.
Responding, the presiding Judge, Justice Olasumbo Goodluck
expressed concerns over the impropriety of the documents.
“The Court is concerned about the propriety of the documents
in the courts records, having not been part of the Court’s order. The Court had
ordered the EFCC to put their records straight, ahead of today’s proceedings.”
Prosecution Counsel apologized to the Court for the blunder
and appealed that the amended charges brought against the accused be read out,
a plea the Judge granted.
The former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye however pleaded
not guilty to the 7-count amended charge bothering on alleged criminal breach
of trust, as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Financial Action Task
Force-FATF, read out to him.
Following an oral application by the Defense Counsel, Ade
Okeaya-Inne, SAN, the Court reiterated its earlier order, granting bail to the
accused.
“This Court hereby reiterates its earlier order granting
bail to the defendant, notwithstanding the additional charges.”
As the hearing commenced, a Prosecution witness, Ibrahim
Musa, an Assistant Manager with Zenith Bank Plc, Abuja, shocked the Court, when
he claimed that he had never met the accused personally, but managed the
account of the Presidential Committee. He explained how the account was opened,
following all known banking procedures.
“I have not met Mr. Oronsaye personally, but I know him as
former Head of Service and Chairman, Presidential Committee on the Financial
Action Task Force. I opened the account for them and was in charge of it. The
account was in the name of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task
Force.
"The account number is: 1012749303. There were three major inflows into
the account, one on 17th September, 2011 (N51,306,975.00), another on 12th
June, 2013 (N160,525,000.00) and the third on 23rd September, 2014.”
During cross examination, Musa denied knowledge of any form
of investment of the funds by the accused, as claimed by the prosecution.
“The Committee’s funds in Zenith Bank were never invested.
When TSA was implemented, all the monies were sent to the TSA and the account
closed,” he explained.
Continuing, the prosecution introduced another witness, Mr.
Bello Hammadhama, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
serving in the Special Task Force of the Commission.
In an incoherent testimony that lasted for nearly two hours,
the EFCC operative said the Commission received a Petition against the accused,
alleging abuse of trust, which they investigated.
At about 1.30pm, with the consent of all the parties, the
presiding Judge adjourned the matter to 13th, 24th of June and 8th of July, 2016
for continuation of hearing.
Addressing newsmen after the Court session, Counsel to Mr.
Steve Oronsaye, Ade Okeaya-Inneh expressed confidence in the ability of the
Judiciary to dispense justice.
It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, in March, 2016, dragged Nigeria’s former Head of Service,
Stephen Oronsaye, before Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Federal Capital
Territory, FCT, High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on a two-count charge
bordering on alleged breach of trust.
Oronsaye, who is also a former Chairman of the Presidential
Committee on Financial Action Task Force, FATF in 2013, has been having a running
battle with the Commission.
Stakeholders have accused the EFCC of witch hunting the
former Head of Service, over several issues, including his recommendation for
the merger of the EFCC with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related
offences Commission-ICPC, pursuit for autonomy for the Nigerian Financial
Intelligence Unit, NFIU, a department believed to attract heavy foreign donor
support to the EFCC, among other issues.
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