A Federal High Court
Abuja presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, was on Monday January 23
told how a former Managing Director of Aeronautical Engineering and
Technical Services Limited (AETSL), a company owned by the Nigeria Air
Force, Air Vice Marshal Tony Omenyi received over one hundred and thirty
six million Naira kick back from Syrius Technologies and Sky Experts
Limited – two contractors of the Nigeria Air Force.
Abuja presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, was on Monday January 23
told how a former Managing Director of Aeronautical Engineering and
Technical Services Limited (AETSL), a company owned by the Nigeria Air
Force, Air Vice Marshal Tony Omenyi received over one hundred and thirty
six million Naira kick back from Syrius Technologies and Sky Experts
Limited – two contractors of the Nigeria Air Force.
Omenyi
is standing trial before the court on a 3-count charge bordering on
abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N136.325.000.00 (one
hundred and thirty six million, three hundred and twenty five thousand
naira). He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
is standing trial before the court on a 3-count charge bordering on
abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N136.325.000.00 (one
hundred and thirty six million, three hundred and twenty five thousand
naira). He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At
the resumed trial on Monday, the EFCC called its first witness (PW1)
Hassan Saidu, an EFCC Principal Detective, who was led in evidence by
the prosecuting counsel, M.S. Abubakar.
the resumed trial on Monday, the EFCC called its first witness (PW1)
Hassan Saidu, an EFCC Principal Detective, who was led in evidence by
the prosecuting counsel, M.S. Abubakar.
Saidu
informed the court that the investigation of the defendants by the EFCC
was triggered by a letter from the Office of the National Security
Adviser (ONSA) dated 9th December, 2015 alleging that the defendant was
operating suspicious accounts. When the prosecutor sought to tender the
letter in Evidence, the defendant’s counsel Gordy Uche, SAN objected on
the grounds that the letter was supposed to have been certified by the
ONSA and not by EFCC.
informed the court that the investigation of the defendants by the EFCC
was triggered by a letter from the Office of the National Security
Adviser (ONSA) dated 9th December, 2015 alleging that the defendant was
operating suspicious accounts. When the prosecutor sought to tender the
letter in Evidence, the defendant’s counsel Gordy Uche, SAN objected on
the grounds that the letter was supposed to have been certified by the
ONSA and not by EFCC.
Abubakar
countered the argument by citing Section 104(I) of the Evidence Act,
2011 which states that it is the public officer in custody of a document
that should certify it. Thus, in the case at hand the EFCC was the
proper agency to certify the document. The court agreed with the
argument of the prosecution and admitted the document in evidence.
countered the argument by citing Section 104(I) of the Evidence Act,
2011 which states that it is the public officer in custody of a document
that should certify it. Thus, in the case at hand the EFCC was the
proper agency to certify the document. The court agreed with the
argument of the prosecution and admitted the document in evidence.
Continuing
with his evidence, Saidu stated that “in January, 2014 the contractors
were paid the sum of over N202 million and they in turn paid the sum of
N24.8 million to the defendant’s company. While in April, 2014 the
contractors were paid the sum of about N690 million and transferred the
sum of N61.5 million out of it to the defendant’s company, HUZEE Nigeria
Limited. Finally on 18th November, 2014 the contractor paid the sum of
N50 Million to Air Vice Marshal Omenyi’s company after receiving about
N556 million from the Nigerian Air Force”.
with his evidence, Saidu stated that “in January, 2014 the contractors
were paid the sum of over N202 million and they in turn paid the sum of
N24.8 million to the defendant’s company. While in April, 2014 the
contractors were paid the sum of about N690 million and transferred the
sum of N61.5 million out of it to the defendant’s company, HUZEE Nigeria
Limited. Finally on 18th November, 2014 the contractor paid the sum of
N50 Million to Air Vice Marshal Omenyi’s company after receiving about
N556 million from the Nigerian Air Force”.
The case has been adjourned to 16 February, 2017 for continuation of trial.
