The Managing Director of Ontario Oil and Gas Ltd, Walter Wagbatsoma, on Thursday at an Ikeja High Court, challenged the power of the lawyer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , Mr Rotimi Jacob (SAN), to prosecute the N1.9 billion fuel subsidy fraud charge levelled against him.
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| Walter in glasses. |
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wagbatsoma, alongside Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, Babafemi Fakuade and Ontario Oil and Gas Ltd are facing a nine-count charge bordering on fraud.
The trial which was almost concluded took a new twist on April 12 when Wagbatsoma’s lawyer, Mr Wole Olanipekun (SAN) challenged the authority of Jacob to prosecute on behalf of the Federal Government.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the defence lawyer, Mr Edoka Onyeke, moved an application stating that Rotimi did not have a valid fiat to represent the Federal Government in the case.
“I urge Your Lordship to dismiss the charges filed against my client on the grounds that Mr Rotimi Jacob, being a private legal practitioner, failed to produce before the court a fiat by the Attorney General of the Federation or the State authorising him to prosecute the defendants, ”Onyeke said.
He argued that any private prosecutor prosecuting for and on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation or of Lagos State must obtain the fiat duly issued and signed by the Attorney General.
He said: “A fiat was not attached to the charges on May 8, 2013 when trial commenced, the entire proceedings before this court constitutes a gross abuse of court processes.”
Responding, Jacob said: ” The motion of the defence is based on the false premise that the EFCC cannot initiate criminal proceedings without a fiat from the Attorney General of the Federation.
“The constitution also empowers other security agencies such as the EFCC and the police to initiate a trial.”
According to him, the case was initiated by the EFCC and the anti-graft agency authorized him to prosecute the case.
He urged the court to dismiss the application filed by the defence.
Attempts by Jacob to tender in court a copy of his authorisation letter was successfully objected to by the defence.
Justice Lateefa Okunnu ordered that Jacob should tender the document through an affidavit which should be served on other parties.
Okunnu adjourned the case to May 24 for mention. (NAN)
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Hmmm all the young waffy billionaires who made money from Oil have gone into hiding or declared bankruptcy cos of EFCC..Na wah!
Good for them
ReplyDeleteFake EFCC u mean?
ReplyDeleteSo the man na waffy self. He should return all stolen monies. THIEVES EVERYWHERE
ReplyDeleteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
ReplyDeleteSee Walter ohhhhhhhhhhh
hmmmmmmmmmm
you nigerians are sooooooooooo gullible, if you know the extent to which this man has robbed you all of Nigerian oil, hmmmmmmmmmmm i don't even know where to begin.
All i know is this guy WALTER is as guilty as sin.
God please make all these people return billions so that it can be used to do real things for the majority of nigerians, so that ordinary people in nigeria can experience abit of a good life that should be a normal thing.
This guy is the greediest of them all.
Walter we know you in london oh.
But why do people steal money their families to the 10th generation can never finish?
This guy has four yes 4 private jets. Where did he get the money from
ReplyDeleteU are just a moron! Na u buy d 4 private jets for am. People just run their mouths on things they know absolutely nothing about. If at all there's any good person in the oil industry it's Walter Wagbatsoma. Here is someone that has worked hard for his money and has helped countless people in various ways. I dare say he is the most generous man in Nigeria and again I dare say that nothing less than 75% of his earnings go to helping people one way or the other. Then idiots like u would come and start talking rubbish here simply cos ure green with envy. And for the fool that knos him in London, I bet u don't know where ur next 100 pounds would come from so ure ready to pull down anybody that God has blessed and is successful. Stay strong Walter, tho I don't know u personally, ur reputation as a philanthropist pecedes you. God pass ur detractors.
ReplyDeleteanon18.28.. you are the gullible one they are talking about. Have you heard of the proverb Na Abu money them dey take care for Abu.yet Abu is their slave. Anon18.28 that is your case. open your eyes and see for yourself what is happening. so stealing ship not one not two not three oh, of oil off the shores of naija is okay abi? at the expense of the country. na una sabi oh. Walter my fellow waferian..continue yiu hear!
DeleteAnon 04:17, in the absence of hard credible evidence that Walter took part or is directly or indirectly linked to ur ur purported "ship theft", or credible eye witness testimony from u, then I'm afraid, with all due respect that I would just have to class u with those that run their mouth about things they don't know about. It's easy to make allegations about successful people. Try to be successful and see the kind of allegations that would come up against u.
ReplyDeleteMany of u running ur mouth against walter wagbatsoma i bet u if not u someone from ur generation has benefited from him all of u running ur mouth like blind dwarfs do u really know what is obtainable in this matter i pray God helps him n all of u will be witnesses to this great mans divine intervention i declare him free from all allegations in Jesus name becos even u ur mama ur papa ur brother ur uncle aunty nephew neice cousin friend inlaw n the rest don benefit from walter pray n u will receive from him
ReplyDeleteMake una dey run u na mouth if not ur grand pa ma mama papa aunty uncle brother sister cousin nephew niece don benefit from dis man u no go yan like dat world people keep ur cool n see God deliver dis great waferian in Jesus name i know say very soon u na go dey beg am but u na be hypocrates make God judge
ReplyDeleteMake una dey run u na mouth if not ur grand pa ma mama papa aunty uncle brother sister cousin nephew niece don benefit from dis man u no go yan like dat world people keep ur cool n see God deliver dis great waferian in Jesus name i know say very soon u na go dey beg am but u na be hypocrates make God judge
ReplyDeleteWhat I can say is that this guy has helped some people. Also he has stolen from govt via his friends in govt. So all those claimiing he is innocent are just trying to lie to Nigerians. None of you probably know him than I do but I do not support looting. To those accusing him of looting, where as we know he actually did, it is only the antigraft agencies that can hold him accountable. So pray that Nigeria wake up to try people fairly.
ReplyDelete