EFCC Docks AVM Oguntoyinbo for N166m Bribe **Arraign Lawyer for N40m Fraud

EFCC Docks AVM Oguntoyinbo for N166m Bribe

**Arraign Lawyer for N40m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, June 2, 2016 arraigned Air Vice Marshall Olutayo Tade Oguntoyinbo before Justice Olukayode A. Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja on one count charge of bribery to the tune of N166million (one hundred and sixty-six million naira).

Allegedly, AVM Oguntoyinbo while being the Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Air force collected the sum of N166m (one hundred and sixty-six million naira) as gratification from a contractor with the Nigerian Air force, Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux Nigeria Limited.

The act contravenes Section 17(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 17(c) of the same Act.

The charge reads: “That you, AVM Olutayo Tade Oguntoyinbo whilst serving as Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Air force and the CEO/Managing Director as well as the sole signatory to the account of Spaceweb Integrated Services Limited with Wema Bank, on or about  the 11th July, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Court did accept a gift in the sum of One hundred and Sixty Six Million Naira (N166,000,000) from Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux Nigeria Limited, a contractor with the Nigerian Air force in performance of your official act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section17(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 17(c) of the same Act”.

The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him

In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Francis Jirbo asked the court for a date for hearing.

But, Oguntoyinbo’s counsel, Henry Michael Ihun prayed the court to grant bail to the accused on liberal terms.

Jirbo kicked saying that, he was served with the bail application shortly before the court started sitting and needed time to respond to it.

Justice Adeniyi ordered that the accused person be remanded in Kuje Prison pending hearing on the bail application and adjourned to June 6, 2016.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Wednesday May 1, 2016 arraigned one Imo Efiong Akpan before Justice Ifiok Ukana of the State High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on a 2- count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false pretense to the tune of Forty Million Naira.

The petitioner alleged that the suspect, Barrister Akpan sold a filing station (Tripple Tower Petroleum Resources) to him for Twenty million Naira, which he paid in two installments.

 He further stated that after several months, he found out that the owner of the property whom the suspect claimed to be his uncle was not aware of the sale and that documents presented by the suspect were forged.

Count one reads,” that you Imo Efiong Akpan sometime in May 2012, at Uyo within the Uyo Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, obtained the total sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) from Kufre Nelson by falsely representing yourself to him as an agent of Tripple Tower Petroleum Resources for the sale of its Filling Station Located at Idu Urwan Road, Uyo, which representation you knew to be false thereby committed an offence of obtaining money by false pretense contrary to Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006”. 

Count two reads, “that you Imo Efiong Akpan sometimes in May 2012, at Uyo within the Uyo Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, fraudulently converted to your own use the sum of N20, 000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira), property of Mr. Kufre Nelson thereby committed an offence Stealing contrary to Section 405 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol.2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000”.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Usman Shehu, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and to remand the accused person in prison custody.

However, Justice Ukana adjourned the matter to 6 June, 2016 for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody

END