Alleged N190m Fraud: Ex-HOSF Oronsaye, Others Know Fate April 15

A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled judgment for April 5 in the trial of a former Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF) and five others on charges relating to alleged N190 million fraud.

Stephen Osagie Oronsaye is being tried, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/297/2015, with Osarenkhoe Afe, Frederick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Cluster Logistics Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited and Drew Investment & Construction Limited.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2011, used the firms to divert public funds through procurement fraud.

On Thursday, Justice Inyang Ekwo chose April 5 for judgment after lawyers to the prosecution and defence made their final submissions.

Oronsaye’s lawyer, Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the entire charge as it relates to his client.

Okeaya-Inneh argued that the allegations against his client were worthless because they were not based or predicated on any known facts or evidence to sustain them.

He recalled that the prosecution, on its own accord and in the course of the trial, withdrew 22 counts from the charge when faced with the reality that the allegations have no substance.

Okeaya-Inneh urged the court to discharge and acquit his client on grounds that the prosecution has failed to adduce credible evidence to prove its case as required by law.

Lawyers to the other defendants, including Oluwole Aladedoye, spoke in a similar vein.

The lawyer for the prosecution, Oluwaleke Atolagbe faulted the defence’ arguments and urged the court to convict the defendants as charged.

Atolagbe argued that the prosecution, through its 21 witnesses, has provided sufficient evidence on which the defendants could be convicted.

He noted the second defendant made a confessional statement that has been tendered before the court.