N190m Fraud: Court Rules on Oronsaye’s No-Case Submission May 9

An FCT High Court, Maitama, will on May 9, rule on the no-case submission by Steve Oronsaye, former Head of Service of the Federation, facing N190 million corruption charges.

Oronsaye was also the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force, set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He was docked for breach of trust and diversion of N190 million meant for the committee he chaired.

The judge, Justice Olasumbo Goodluck, had on March 1 adjourned the ruling until May 4; again on May 4, he adjourned the case until May 9 at the instance of the court.

The prosecution called six witnesses to prove his case and also closed its case on Nov. 15.

On Dec. 9, the defence filed no-case submission, saying that the prosecution does not have any case against the defendant.

In his submission, the defence counsel Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that there were omissions of essential elements in the charges against his client.

He said on that account the charges were imperfect.

Agabi said that the charge was initially 2- count, later amended to 7-count.

He said that was a sign that something was wrong with the charge from the beginning.

He said that the prosecution did not specify the amount that was entrusted to the defendant, nor the mandate of the committee the defendant chaired.

Agabi also said that no evidence of personal use of the fund that the defendant was accused of misusing,but mere allegations.

He said that no offence proven by prosecution to warrant the defendant to enter defence and therefore urged the court to grant his no-case submission.

Responding, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Offem Uket, told the court that the prosecution has proved its case, adding that the defendant should enter his defence.

Uket said that it was not right to bring up the issue of imperfection of charges now, as it is against the provisions in Sections 220 and 221 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA) 2015.

He urged the court to dismiss the no- case submission.