Jide Omokore, Diezani’s associate, acquitted of $1.6bn fraud

 

A federal high court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Jide Omokore, chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, of fraud allegations.

 

Omokore was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, and David Mbanefo on a 15-count charge.

 

They were alleged to have fraudulently diverted about $1.6bn alleged to be part of proceeds of sales of petroleum products belonging to the federal government.

 

Although Omokore was acquitted of the charges by the court on Tuesday, his co-defendants were found guilty and convicted.

 

Omokore, an ally of Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former minister of petroleum, was initially arraigned on July 4, 2016.

 

He and the co-defendants were arraigned before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba.

 

Their alleged offences were said to be contrary to section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act and punishment under section 1(3) of the same Act.