The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a former Head of Service of the Federal Government, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, for fraud and money laundering charges.
Oronsaye and other accused persons, as well as a firm, pleaded not guilt to the 24 counts when they were brought before Justice Gabriel Kolawole, on Monday.
The prosecution accused them of committing the procurement fraud in 2010 under the pretext of using the various sums of money, illegally withdrawn from the Federal Government’s account, for “biometric data capturing project.”
The offences, allegedly committed while Oronsaye was Head of Service of the Federal Government, were said to be contrary to provisions of section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and section 1(1) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other related offences Act.
Oronsaya was alleged to have used some companies and diverted huge sums of money from the federal government coffers under the guise of using same to pay for biometric data capture project.
He was said to have claimed that some of the funds were meant for the procurement of computer accessories.
The fraud was allegedly committed between March and May 2010 while the first accused person was still in charge as the head of service of the federation.
The EFCC in the charge marked FHC/CR/297/15, maintained that accused persons committed offences contrary and punishable under section 14 (1)(b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2004.
The proceedings are ongoing…
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