Alleged N2bn Fraud: Court Discharges, Acquits Oronsaye, 2 Others

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja, has discharged and acquitted a former head of service of the federation (HoSF) Stephen Oronsaye of N2 billion fraud charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court, while delivering judgement on the matter yesterday held that the prosecution failed to provide enough evidence to warrant a conviction.

The trial began in 2015 with the arraignment of Oronsaye alongside the managing director of Frederick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Osarenkhoe Afe, when they were docked on 49-count charges bordering on fraud, which they pleaded not guilty.

Also charged with Oronsaye by the EFCC were three companies – Cluster Logistics Limited; Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited.

In the case, the anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants had between 2010 and 2011, used the firms to divert public funds through procurement fraud.

The EFCC equally accused Orosanye and the others of using inflated biometrics enrolment contracts, collective allowances and other schemes to siphon money from accounts containing pensioners’ funds.

The commission also tendered a report of the auditor-general of the Federation on the federal government’s pension accounts which indicted Oronsaye and others of wrongdoing.