Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency, Mr. Raymond Temisan Omatseye, has been sentenced to five years in prison, by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, over a N1.5bn contract scam.
Omatseye was on Friday sentenced after his arraignment before the court on a 27-count charge bordering on alleged contract variation, bid rigging and awarding contract above his approval limit. At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, 14 March, the prosecution counsel, Godwin Obla, SAN, and defence counsel, E. D Onyeke made their final addresses and adopted them before the court.
Onyeke filed and served the court and prosecution a written address and adopted. He urged the court to dismiss the case against the former NIMASA boss on the grounds that, the prosecution has not been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Obla also adopted his written address and expressed confidence that the 27-count charge against the defendant has been proved beyond all reasonable doubt and prayed the court to find the defendant guilty of all the charges. He noted that 25 counts of the charges preferred against Omatseye dwelt on the approval of contract above the threshold level and the other two counts dealt with bid rigging. He also said that, contrary to existing regulations, contract was awarded to a company that was the highest bidder and which was not even pre-qualified for the contract.
Vanguard
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