N1.5BN FRAUD: Appeal Court Overturns Omatseye’s 5-Year Jail Conviction

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has overturned the judgment of the Federal High Court in Lagos which convicted a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Raymond Omatseye, and sentenced him to five years imprisonment.

Omatseye was convicted on June 6, 2016, by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of 24 out of the 27 counts pressed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Punch reports.

She sentenced him to five years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

Displeased, however, Omatseye, proceeded on appeal, with his lawyer, Mr. Olusina Sofola (SAN), describing Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s judgment as unreasonable and urged the appellate court to overturn it.

In a judgment on Thursday, the Court of Appeal agreed with Sofola and overturned Omatseye’s conviction.