The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, arraigned Tuoyo Omatsuli, a former Executive Director of Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and one Francis Momoh before Justice Salisu Saidu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The duo were affaigned on a 45-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of Three Billion, Six Hundred and Forty- five Million Naira.
Omatsuli and Momoh were charged alongside their companies, Don Parker Properties Limited and Building Associates Limited respectively.
According to the charge sheet, the accused were said to have shown personal interests in the consultancy contract awarded to Starline Consultancy Services Limited by the NDDC, thereby enriching themselves unlawfully.
Investigations revealed that the defendants received monies in tranches from Starline Consultancy Services Limited through their companies and used the funds to purchase properties across the country, offence of which is contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering Act 2011 as amended by (Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts when they were read to them.However, the prosecution counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, asked the court for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendants in prison custody to ensure that they attend trial.
Justice Saidu remanded the defendants in the EFCC custody and adjourned the matter to November 16, 2018 for hearing of their bail application.
