The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has discharged and acquitted the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, Jide Omokore, who was accused of falsely obtaining over 7 million barrels of crude oil, valued at the sum of US$ 823, 075 from the Federal Government.
Omokore, who is an ally of former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was initially arraigned in 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He was arraigned alongside Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, and David Mbanefo on 15 counts of fraud.
The trio were alleged to have fraudulently diverted about $1.6bn alleged to be part of proceeds of sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government and were arraigned before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba.
In the charge, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, had
alleged that Omokore obtained barrels of crude oil from FG after he made false presentations to the NPDC and the NNPC.
Recall that at the earlier stage of the trial, the court had struck out the name of the former Petroleum Minister, Diezani, which was reflected in a count in the charge.
The court noted that though her name appeared in the count, she was however not properly joined as a defendant.
Justice Dimgba adjourned further proceedings in the case till Wednesday for the court to pass its sentence.
He equally revoked the bail that was earlier granted to the two defendants and remanded them in the custody of the EFCC pending their sentencing.
Meanwhile, the EFCC, through its lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, said it would appeal the judgement.
