Justice O. Efreti Abang of the Federal High Court sitting
in Asaba, Delta State has ordered that Mrs. Fidelia
Omoile , a serving Independent National Electoral
Commission’ s ( INEC) official in Isoko- South Local
Government Area of Delta State, be remanded in prison
custody following her arraignment on Monday, on a two-
count amended charge, bordering on conspiracy and
money laundering, by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC.
. Fidelia Omoile
Omoile was docked for allegedly collecting the sum of
N112,480,000.00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Four
Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira), as a bribe during
the countdown to the 2015 Presidential election.
She
was among the over 100 INEC Officials that allegedly
collected part of the $115million (N23bn) disbursed by a
former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-
Madueke, during the countdown to the 2015 presidential
election.
Omoile was arrested on 11 April, 2016 following an
intelligence received by the EFCC on the activities of
some INEC Staff, who allegedly connived with some Non
Governmental Organisations (NGOs), in defrauding the
Federal Government huge sums of money, running into
millions of Naira. She allegedly received N112.4million as
bribe during the 2015 general election.
Count one of the charge read: That you Fidelia Omoile on
or about the month of March, 2015 at Asaba within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among
yourselves to receive cash payment in the sum of N
112,480,000.00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Four
Hindered and Eighty Thousand Naira only) exceeding the
statutory limit without going through a financial
institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to
Section 18 (a) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act
2012 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3)
and (4) of the same Act.
Count two of the charge read: That you Fidelia Omoile on
or about the month of March, 2015 at Asaba within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did receive cash
payment in the sum of N112,480,000.00 (One Hundred
and Twelve Million, Four Hindered and Eighty Thousand
Naira only) exceeding the statutory limit without going
through a financial institution and thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 1 (a) of the Money laundering
( Prohibition) Act 2012 as amended and punishable under
Section 16 (b) and (4) of the sae Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it
was read to her.
In view of her plea , prosecution counsel, Sadiq Hussaini,
asked for a trial date and sued that the defendant be
remanded in prison custody. However, counsel to the
defendant, K. O Obamogie, made an oral application for
bail of his client and urged the court to grant his prayers.
Hussaini opposed his prayers.
In his ruling, Justice Abang turned down the defendant’ s
application for bail, directing that the aplication be filed
formally. He also adjourned the matter to 6 June, 2017
for hearing and ordered the defendant to be remanded in
prison custody pending the determination of her bail.
in Asaba, Delta State has ordered that Mrs. Fidelia
Omoile , a serving Independent National Electoral
Commission’ s ( INEC) official in Isoko- South Local
Government Area of Delta State, be remanded in prison
custody following her arraignment on Monday, on a two-
count amended charge, bordering on conspiracy and
money laundering, by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC.
Omoile was docked for allegedly collecting the sum of
N112,480,000.00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Four
Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira), as a bribe during
the countdown to the 2015 Presidential election.
She
was among the over 100 INEC Officials that allegedly
collected part of the $115million (N23bn) disbursed by a
former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-
Madueke, during the countdown to the 2015 presidential
election.
Omoile was arrested on 11 April, 2016 following an
intelligence received by the EFCC on the activities of
some INEC Staff, who allegedly connived with some Non
Governmental Organisations (NGOs), in defrauding the
Federal Government huge sums of money, running into
millions of Naira. She allegedly received N112.4million as
bribe during the 2015 general election.
Count one of the charge read: That you Fidelia Omoile on
or about the month of March, 2015 at Asaba within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among
yourselves to receive cash payment in the sum of N
112,480,000.00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Four
Hindered and Eighty Thousand Naira only) exceeding the
statutory limit without going through a financial
institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to
Section 18 (a) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act
2012 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3)
and (4) of the same Act.
Count two of the charge read: That you Fidelia Omoile on
or about the month of March, 2015 at Asaba within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did receive cash
payment in the sum of N112,480,000.00 (One Hundred
and Twelve Million, Four Hindered and Eighty Thousand
Naira only) exceeding the statutory limit without going
through a financial institution and thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 1 (a) of the Money laundering
( Prohibition) Act 2012 as amended and punishable under
Section 16 (b) and (4) of the sae Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it
was read to her.
In view of her plea , prosecution counsel, Sadiq Hussaini,
asked for a trial date and sued that the defendant be
remanded in prison custody. However, counsel to the
defendant, K. O Obamogie, made an oral application for
bail of his client and urged the court to grant his prayers.
Hussaini opposed his prayers.
In his ruling, Justice Abang turned down the defendant’ s
application for bail, directing that the aplication be filed
formally. He also adjourned the matter to 6 June, 2017
for hearing and ordered the defendant to be remanded in
prison custody pending the determination of her bail.
Comments
Post a Comment
Feel free to add your comment.