By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of some top executives of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) over money laundering.
The convicted officials, an ex-Group Executive, Exploration & Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Abiye Membere, and a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, (NPDC), Victor Briggs were sentenced to two years imprisonment each with an option of two million Naira fine each for allegedly laundering about $1.6 billion.
According to the EFCC, the two convicted officials had “Unethically collected car gifts as public officials,”
This offense, the EFCC said contravenes Section 98 of the Criminal Code Act.
A statement released by the EFCC on Thursday said that the duo had conspired and induced the NPDC to facilitate the lifting of crude by Olajide Omokore, a businessman and owner of Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited.
“When the matter resumed today, the convicts through their counsel, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, while O.A Atolagbe who held the brief of lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, urged the court to impose custodial sentence on the defendants.
“Justice Dimgba sentenced the convicts to two years imprisonment with an option of Two Million Naira fine each, to be paid immediately to the Federal government,” the statement said.
