Former NNPC GMD, Yakubu, Omokore for arraignment

The Federal Government has fixed July 4 for the arraignment of former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Andrew Yakubu and the owner of Atlantic Energy Limited, Jide Omokore before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The arraignment, which was originally scheduled to take place on Monday was moved due to the inability of the prosecution to bring the accused together before Justice Binta Nyako’s Court.

Prosecuting Counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), who confirmed the development, stated that since all the suspects were not in court, there would not be the need to arraign them separately.

He said: “The accused persons are scattered across the country and we are trying to avoid a situation whereby the accused persons will be arraigned separately.

“What we are trying to do now is to gather all the accused persons together and I believe we should be able to arraign them on July 4.”

Jacobs further disclosed that the prosecution would be amending the charges against the accused.

Others to be arraigned alongside Yakubu and Omokore include Victor Briggs, Abiye Memnere, David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

Atlantic Energy Limited was alleged to have received multi-billion dollars worth of public assets without due process from the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2011.

It was also alleged that the company was created less than a year earlier and had not produced a drop of oil before it was awarded controlling stakes in two oil blocks – OML 30 and 34, for over $50 million each.