The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said it will appeal the Monday judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, which acquitted a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Stephen Oronsaye, of the N2billion money laundering charge brought against him and others.
The PUNCH reports that Oronsaye’s corruption trial commenced in 2015 when he was docked alongside the Managing Director of Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Mr Osarenkhoe Afe, and three companies – Cluster Logistic Limited; Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited.
However, following his acquittal, the anti-graft agency said it believes that the trial judge erred by overlooking the evidence of the 21 witnesses called by the prosecution in the course of the trial as well as the confessional statement of one of the defendants, Osarenkhoe Afe; hence its decision to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
The development was made known on Monday night by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement obtained by our correspondent.
Uwujaren said, “The EFCC will appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, which today (Monday) acquitted a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Stephen Oronsaye of the N2billion money laundering charge brought against him and others by the commission.
“In dismissing the charge, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the commission failed to establish the charges against the defendants.
“However, the commission believes the trial judge erred by overlooking the evidence of the 21 witnesses called by the prosecution in the course of the trial as well as the confessional statement of one of the defendants, Osarenkhoe Afe. It has therefore decided to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
“Oronsaye’s corruption trial commenced in 2015 when he was docked alongside the Managing Director of Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Mr Osarenkhoe Afe and three companies – Cluster Logistic Limited; Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited.
“The 1st and 2nd defendants, had between 2010 and 2011, used the companies as vehicles to siphon public funds to the tune of N2billion through contract fraud. They were prosecuted on an amended 27–count charge.”
