A Federal High Court sitting Abuja and preside over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba has discharged and acquitted businessman, Jide Omokore and his firms – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited in a case brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly diverting about $1.6billion.
Omokore, his firms and one Kola Akanni Aluko said to be at large, were accused by the EFCC of diverting the said funds which it claimed was part of proceeds of the sale of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government under the Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) entered with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Justice Dimgba, in a judgment on Tuesday,however, convicted a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC), Victor Briggs and an ex-Group Executive, Exploration & Production of the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , Abiye Membere, for public corruption.
Though the two were discharged and acquitted on other counts, but were, however, convicted for accepting gifts of Mercedes Benz and Range Rover cars from Omokore.
Justice Dimgba then ordered that Briggs and Membere be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending their sentencing which is scheduled for Wednesday, February 8.
