N2bn fraud allegation: Oronsaye, others know fate April 5

The Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed April 5 to deliver judgment in the alleged N2 billion fraud charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) against a former Head of Service, Mr Stephen Oronsaye.

The trial of the former Head of Service has been on for over seven years.

The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, fixed the date on Wednesday after counsel in the matter adopted their final written addresses.

Adopting his address on behalf of the prosecution, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe prayed the court considers all the evidence the prosecution presented before it.

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Atolagbe also urged the court to consider the testimony of all the 21 witnesses the prosecution called in convicting and sentencing the defendants.

He urged the court to uphold his argument and deliver its judgment in his favour.

For his part, counsel to Oronsaye, Mr Ade Okeanya- Inneh, SAN prayed the court to discharge and acquit his client on the grounds that the prosecution failed to produce enough evidence to warrant a conviction.

“When the court is considering all the submissions made by the prosecution, the only question that the court should ask is where is the evidence,” the senior lawyer said.

Adopting his final address on behalf of the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Mr Oluwole Aladedoyin, urged the court to dismiss the remaining 27 counts still standing against the defendants.

Aladedoyin said his prayer was premised on the fact that the charge against his client was unmeritorious and should have never been filed as there was no evidence to back it.

He urged the court to discharge and acquit his client.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the case began in 2015 with the arraignment of Oronsaye alongside the Managing Director of Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Mr Osarenkhoe Afe.

They were docked on 49 counts bordering on fraud. But the charges were later amended after the commission separated the parts involving the former head of the Presidential Pension Task Force, Abdulrasheed Maina who was then at large.