EFCC arraigns former head of service, Oronsaye, for allegedly ‘stealing’ N1.9 bn

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned Stephen Oronsaye, former head of service, before Gabriel Kolawole, justice of the federal high court in Abuja.

Oronsaye (pictured with Jonathan), who was arraigned on a 24-count‎ charge of stealing and obtaining by false pretense, was arrested by the EFCC last Wednesday.

He is accused of awarding a contract worth N63 million to Innovative Solutions and Project Limited, a company he allegedly chose without due process, for biometric data capture. According to the EFCC, the contract served as a means by which three individuals and five companies got more than N700 million.

Based on the charges, the companies, which had no contract to participate in the biometric data capture exercise but were paid, include Frederick Hamilton Global Services Limited, which received about N119 million; Xangee Technologies, about N153 million; Fatidek Venture at leastN30 million, and Obanlado Enterprises, about N96 million‎.

Before Justice‎ Kolawole took the plea of the accused person, he warned against the peddling of rumours, stating that Oronsaye was “officially” known to him. “I abhor rumour mongering. Oronsaye is known to me just as Ibrahim Lamorde of the EFCC is known to me,” he said.

“I don’t know where he lives and he doesn’t know where I live. If anyone feels I can’t be impartial in this case, let them say so I can disqualify myself and return the file to the chief justice.”

Aliyu Yusuf, counsel to the EFCC, stated that his client was comfortable with the judge handling the case. Also, Kanu Agabi, counsel to Oronsaye, who leads about 20 lawyers in the case, said he‎ had no objection.

EFCC arraigns former head of service, Oronsaye, for allegedly ‘stealing’ N1.9 bn