A Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday adjourned until Tuesday the trial of of businessman Jide Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited for alleged money laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of $1.6 billion.
Also charged with Mr Omokore are Victor Briggs, former managing director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC); and Membere Abiye for alleged oil fraud involving Omokore’s companies in respect of a strategic alliance agreement on OML 26, 30, 34 & 42.
The defendants are facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and procurement fraud.
At Monday’s hearing, the extra-judicial statement made by a witness Kehinde O, an estate manager and developer with YS Construction Company, was admitted in evidence.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacobs told the court that the two witnesses he had scheduled to call were both indisposed.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned the matter until February 23 for continuation of hearing.
On the last adjourned date, a prosecution witness an EFCC investigator Abdulrasheed Bawa told the court that Omokore bought property for former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
He tendered documents in respect of the properties and they were admitted in evidence.
