EFCC Re-arraigns Ex-NDDC Director, Tuoyo Omatsuli, Over Alleged N3.6bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, May 19, 2025, re-arraigned a former Executive Director of Projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Omatsuli is standing trial alongside Francis Momoh, Don Parker Properties Limited, and Building Associates Limited on an amended 46-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N3.645 billion.

The re-arraignment follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which on December 15, 2021, overturned a no-case submission earlier delivered by Justice Saliu Seidu. Justice Seidu had discharged Omatsuli while ordering the other three defendants to enter their defence. The EFCC and the defendants appealed the decision.

The appellate court ruled in favour of the EFCC, ordering a fresh trial for all defendants. However, the case was stalled following Justice Seidu’s retirement in November 2020, prompting a reassignment to Justice Osiagor.

At Monday’s proceedings, Justice Osiagor allowed the adoption of prior proceedings and exhibits tendered during the earlier trial in a bid to conserve judicial time and resources. Both the prosecution and defence did not object to the court’s directive.

Following the reading of the amended charge, all defendants pleaded not guilty.

One of the counts reads:
“That you, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, Don Parker Properties Limited, Francis Momoh, and Building Associates Limited, between August 2014 and September 2015 in Lagos, conspired to disguise the illegal origin of N3,645,000,000, being proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: corruption and gratification. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

Following the plea, prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, called the first prosecution witness (PW1), Usman Yusuf Adamu, an EFCC operative involved in the original investigation. Adamu told the court that 16 witnesses had testified in the earlier trial and that 34 exhibits, marked ET01 to ET34, had been admitted.

“None of the witnesses resides in Lagos. They had to travel from Port Harcourt or Abuja. Some have relocated abroad, while others are no longer reachable,” Adamu explained.

Iheanacho subsequently applied to tender the previous court records and exhibits, relying on Section 46 of the Evidence Act. The defence did not object, and the court admitted the records and exhibits in evidence.

The prosecution also sought to adopt the prior testimony of the 13th prosecution witness, Adamu, and to have all exhibits taken as read. Justice Osiagor granted the application.

Following the close of testimony by PW1, the defence team requested more time to prepare for their defence. The matter was adjourned to July 2, 3, and 4, 2025, for continuation of trial.