The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has disclosed that it will appeal against the Monday judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, which acquitted a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Stephen Oronsaye, over his alleged involvement in N2billion money laundering charge preferred against him and other defendants.
The EFCC had in 2015, arraigned Oronsaye alongside the Managing Director of Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Mr Osarenkhoe Afe, and three firms, Cluster Logistic Limited; Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited.
But Justice Iyang Ekwo had discharged and acquitted Oronsaye on the grounds that the EFCC failed to provide credible evidence to sustain the charge against the former HoS.
Faulting Oronsaye’s acquittal, the EFCC said it believes that the trial judge erred in law by overlooking the totality of evidence of the 21 witnesses it called in the course of the trial as well as the confessional statement of one of the defendants, Osarenkhoe Afe.
The anti-graft agency further stated that the development prompted its decision to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, stated this in a statement made available to TheIdeal News on Monday.
The statement reads in part,, “The EFCC will appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, which today (Monday) acquitted a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Stephen Oronsaye of the N2billion money laundering charge brought against him and others by the commission.
“In dismissing the charge, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the commission failed to establish the charges against the defendants.
“However, the commission believes the trial judge erred by overlooking the evidence of the 21 witnesses called by the prosecution in the course of the trial as well as the confessional statement of one of the defendants, Osarenkhoe Afe. It has therefore decided to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
“Oronsaye’s corruption trial commenced in 2015 when he was docked alongside the Managing Director of Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Mr Osarenkhoe Afe and three companies – Cluster Logistic Limited; Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited.
“The 1st and 2nd defendants, had between 2010 and 2011, used the companies as vehicles to siphon public funds to the tune of N2billion through contract fraud. They were prosecuted on an amended 27–count charge.”
