The Former Head of Service, Stephen Oronsaye Acquitted Of '2 Billion Naira' Fraud Charge

-Reported by Lkite Gift Abubakar

Source: People's Gazette 

On Monday, June 5, 2023, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja acquitted and discharged Mr Stephen Oronsaye, the former Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, of the N190 million fraud charge levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court ruled that the prosecution did not present adequate evidence to justify Oronsaye's conviction. Oronsaye and Osarenkhoe Afe, the Managing Director of Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited were arraigned,  on a 49-count charge.

The charges were initially leveled against several individuals, including former head of the Presidential Pension Task Force, Abdulrasheed Maina, who was at large. However, the anti-graft commission later separated the charges involving him, reducing the total number of counts to 22. Subsequently, Mr. Maina was charged separately by the EFCC and was found guilty, receiving a sentence of eight years in prison in November 2021.

According to the EFCC, the defendants were accused of engaging in procurement fraud during the period of 2010 to 2011 using their companies to divert public funds. Additionally, Mr. Orosanye and his accomplices were charged with using inflated biometrics enrolment contracts, collective allowances, and other tactics to illegally drain funds from pensioners' accounts.

In addition, the Commission presented a report from the Auditor-General of the Federation regarding the pension accounts of the Federal Government. The report accused Mr. Oronsaye and others of engaging in improper behavior.