Stephen Oronsaye

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that it would appeal a judgement acquitting a former head of service of the federation, Stephen Oronsaye, of the N2 billion money laundering charges levelled against him.

Oronsaye was in 2016 arraigned alongside Osarenkhoe Afe, Managing Director of Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, on a 49-count charge. The charges were later amended to 22, after it was separated from that of the former head of the Presidential Pension Task Force, Abdulrasheed Maina, who was then at large.

The former Head of Service was accused of using three companies; Cluster Logistic Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited, to divert money during the civil service biometric data project.

Ruling on the case on Monday, June 5, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the allegations by the EFCC lacked merit as they failed to provide adequate evidence to warrant Oronsaye’s conviction.

However, the anti-graft accused the judge of overlooking the evidence of the 21 witnesses called in during the trial as well as the confessional statement of one of the defendants, Osarenkhoe Afe.