Alleged N3.6bn Fraud: EFCC Seeks Arrest Of Ex-NDDC Top Official Omatsuli

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, to issue a warrant of arrest to compel a former executive director on projects in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Tuoyo Omatsuli, to attend his trial over an alleged N3.6bn fraud.

Omatsuli, alongside Francis Momoh, Don Parker Properties Limited and Building Associates Limited, are standing trial on an alleged case of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N3,645,000,000 before retired Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Engr Tuoyo Omatsuli, Don Parker Properties Limited, Francis Momoh and Building Associates Limited, between August 2014 and September 2015 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to disguise the illegal origin of N3,645,000,000 (Three Billion Six Hundred and Forty-Five Million Naira), being proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: corruption and gratification; and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Act 2011 as amended by Act No 1 of 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

Another count reads: “That you, Engr Tuoyo Omatsuli, between August 2014 and September 2015 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did procure Francis Momoh and Building Associates Limited to use the total sum of N3,645,000,000 (Three Billion Six Hundred and Forty-Five Million Naira) paid by Starline Consultancy Services into the Diamond Bank Plc Account No. 0023785116 operated by Building Associate Ltd, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: Corruption and Gratification; and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Act 2011 as amended by Act No 1 of 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said after calling 16 prosecution witnesses, the Commission subsequently closed its case against the defendants.

However, rather than open their defence, the defendants filed a no-case submission, which was heard since October 12, 2020.