Ex-NIMASA Boss Re-Arraigned

By Akin kuponiyi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Monday, re-arraigned the former Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Raymond Temisan Omatseye on a 27-count criminal charge bordering on contract scam.

He was earlier arraigned before a Federal High Court in 2011 but his trial was stalled due to the transfer of the trial judge, Justice Binta Muritala Nyako to Makurdi, Benue State, Northcentral Nigeria.

Consequently, the case was reassigned to Justice Ofili Ajumogobia. When the matter was mentioned this morning, the EFCC prosecuting counsel, Chief Godwin Obla, informed the court that the charge pending before it has been amended. In view of this, he applied that the charge be read for  the plea of the accused person to be taken. The 27-charge was then read to Omatseye who was accused of awarding contracts above his threshold. He pleaded not guilty to all the counts. Chief Obla told the court that he was ready to commence with the prosecution of the case as three of the witnesses were in court. Counsel to Omatseye, Olusina Sofola, did not oppose the prosecutor’s position.

The police officer who investigated the case, Ibrahim Ahmed, was called in to commence his evidence. As at the time of going to the press, the trial was ongoing.