Businessman Olajide Omokore has denied buying houses and cars for former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Denying the allegations from the witness box on Wednesday at the resumed hearing of the alleged $1.6 billion fraudulent oil deal, Omokore told Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja that he also did not buy such things for other politicians.
The first defendant is facing trial alongside his companies, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited.
Other defendants are Victor Briggs, former managing director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, and Abiye Membere.
Questioned by the lead defence counsel, R.A. Lawal-Rabana, if the allegation that he (who is the first defendant) and the second and third defendants gave out two Lagos houses was true, Omokore denied.
“My answer is simple. There was nothing like that. I did not do anything like that. There is no document to that effect. I did not give anything to Diezani as alleged,” he said.
“There is nothing between me and the minister that was more than official. I did not conspire with anyone. I had a facility of about $100 million in Florida.”
Speaking further, he said, “Buying cars is part of my philanthropic gesture. I buy cars for people, churches, NGO, and my friends.
“I never gave any car to Mbanefo. I gave a car to the king of Obosi who is my friend, and Mbanefo happens to be from Obosi.”
The case was adjourned till March 3.
