Court adjourns trial of Omatseye to September 24

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday adjourned to September 24 the trial of Raymond Omatseye, charged with contract splitting and bid rigging.
Omatseye, a former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, was arraigned on a 27-count charge of contract splitting and bid rigging.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the case, which came up for hearing on Wednesday, was adjourned because of the absence of the trial judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.
No reason was, however, given for her absence.
NAN recalls that the accused was first arraigned in February 2011 on an 11-count charge of unlawfully transferring 300,000 pounds from NIMASA’s Barclays Bank, London to fund the campaign of one Mbanefo.
The said Mbanefo was aspiring to be the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation.
Omatseye had pleaded not guilty to the charge, and was granted bail following an application by his counsel Olusina Sofola.
The prosecution later withdrew the charge and replaced it with another, dated June 12 and filed on June 13, 2012.
He was then re-arraigned on January 21 on the amended 27-count charge of contract splitting and bid rigging.
Prosecutor, Godwin Obla, had so far called two witnesses from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who both testified on investigations conducted into activities of the accused in NIMASA.