Former Air Vice marshal jailed for fraud

A Federal High Court in Abuja Thursday sentenced a former Air Vice Marshall, Tony Omenyi, to seven years imprisonment for fraud.

“Court finds Air Vice Marshall Tony Omenyi standing trial for allegedly diverting over N136 million meant for purchase of arms by the military, guilt,” the Economic Financial Crime Commission said on Thursday.

Omenyi was first arraigned in 2016 alongside his company, Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Ltd (AETSL), before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a three-count charge bordering on abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N136.325.000.00.

He was arraigned for his alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for the purchase of arms by the military.

Three years after he was charged, the court found him guilty and ordered the forfeiture of N62 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria, being part of the N136 million recovered from him by the EFCC.

The court also ordered the shutdown of the company listed as the second defendant in the suit, describing it as a vehicle for corruption.