Omatseye, Ex-NIMASA Boss Faces Trial Over N78m Fraud

The former Managing Director of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Raymond Temisan Omatseye was this morning arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos on an 11-count charge of criminal contract splitting and unlawful approval of money.

In the first count, the former NIMASA boss between 2009 and 2010 was alleged to have transferred from the NIMASA Backlays Bank account in London the sum of 300,000 pounds (N78m) without lawful approval purportedly to fund the campaign of Mrs. Mbalaisa as the secretary general of International Maritime Organisation, IMO, and therefore committed an offence punishable under Section 42(A) of the Money Laundering Act, 2004, Laws of the federation.

In other subsequent courns, Omatseye was accused of splitting and awarding contracts to the following companies: Wabil Nigeria Limited, Kenerkebb and Kanal Risku International Limited contrary to Section 58(4)(b) of the Public Procurement Act of 2007 and punishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act.

When the charges were read to him, Omatseye pleaded not guilty.

His counsel, Dr. Joseph Nwodike, SAN, urged the court to admit the accused to bail on the following grounds: The accused has no previous criminal record; the offence is a bailable one and the accused is a senior member of the Bar.

As at the time of going to press, the trial judge, Justice Binta Murtala Nyako had deferred ruling on bail till later in day.

—Akin Kuponiyi