EFCC Docked & Released Former HOS, Oronsaye Over Alleged Fraud

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, allowed the former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, to go home after he entered his plea to a 24-count criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC

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Oronsaye, who was alleged to have used some companies and diverted over N1.9 billion from the national treasury under the guise that the funds were used for biometric data capture project, secured his freedom yesterday despite the fact that the court is yet to hear his formal application for bail.

He was docked and released alongside his alleged accomplice, Mr. Osarenkhoe Afe.

The firm that was allegedly used to perpetuate the fraud between March 2010 and December 2011—Frederick Hamilton and Global Services Limited—was also charged as the 3rd accused person in the matter.

For instance, in count one of the charge marked FHC/CR/297/2015, the EFCC alleged that on or about July 2, 2010, the accused persons collaborated in disguising genuine nature of the sum of N161,472, 000 derived from an illegal act to wit: conducting procurement fraud by means of fraudulent and corrupt action, the contract extension of biometric enrolment purportedly awarded to Innovative Solutions Limited by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, without following due process and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14 (1) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2014.

The anti-graft agency said that it is still tracking a former Deputy Director of Finance in the office of the Head of Service, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina (now at large) who it said was also involved in the fraud.

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