The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has said, it would appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, which acquitted a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, HoS, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, of the N2billion money laundering charge brought against him by the Commission.
This was disclosed on Monday in a statement by the Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren.
Oronsaye was first arraigned in 2015 alongside the Managing Director of Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Mr. Osarenkhoe Afe and three companies- Cluster Logistic Limited; Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited, on an amended 27–count charge.
The 1st and 2nd defendants, had between 2010 and 2011, allegedly used the companies as vehicles to siphon public funds to the tune of N2billion, through contract fraud.
According to Justice Inyang Ekwo who dismissed the charge, the Commission failed to establish the charges against the defendants.
However, the Commission believes the trial judge erred by overlooking the evidence of the 21 witnesses called by the prosecution in the course of the trial as well as the confessional statement of one of the defendants, Osarenkhoe Afe, hence its decision to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
