A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday said it would hear the request for stay of proceedings brought before it by Raymond Omatseye, a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, on February 26.
Omatseye is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on an amended 27-count charge bordering on alleged N1.5 billion contract scam.
The offence contravenes Section 58 (4) (d) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and Section 14(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.
At Wednesday’s hearing, the Defence Counsel, Olusina Sofola, told the court that there was an appeal challenging the ruling of the court, which dismissed Omatseye’s no-case submission.
Sofola also informed the court of his application for stay proceedings in the suit at the trial court pending the decision of the appellate court.
Consequently, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the suit to February 26 for hearing of the application for stay of proceedings.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ofili-Ajumogobia had on February 2 dismissed Omatseye’s no-case submission and had ordered him to enter his defence.
The judge had held that the prosecution made a prima facie case against the accused and so dismissed the no-case submission and called on him to enter his defence.
Omatseye, dissatisfied with the ruling of the court, had filed an appeal, urging the appellate court to set aside the ruling of the trial court and discharge him.
NAN recalls that Omatseye was re-arraigned on January 21, 2013 on the amended charge.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail.
The prosecution, led by Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), had opened its case on February 4, 2013 and called three witnesses.
All witnesses had given various testimonies before the court as to the nature and form of contract awarded by the accused, while serving as the director-general of NIMASA.
Obla closed the case for the prosecution on October 13, 2014.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, the accused entered a no-case submission on the ground that the prosecution failed to prove its case against him.
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