Stephen Oronsaye, a former head of the Nigerian civil service, has pleaded not guity to charges of fraud

Stephen Oronsaye, a former head of the Nigerian civil
service, has pleaded not guity to charges of fraud
leveled against him by the Economic and Financial

Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Oronsaye made his plea at a Federal High Court in
the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The former civil service boss is being arraigned over
his alleged involvement in a N190million fraud.
His plea followed an oral application by the prosecution
counsel, O.Uket seeking that the court allow the
accused person enter his appeal.
Having pleaded not guilty to the charges against him,
Uket applied for Oronsaye to be remanded in prison
pending trial.
The defense counsel, Joe Agi argued that the chief
justice of Nigeria has directed that criminal cases must
be heard on a day to day basis.
On that, the judge stood the matter down by an hour
to enable the prosecution bring their witnesses.
Oronsaye is facing a fresh two-count charge of
corruption and obtaining money by false pretence
before Justice O. O Goodluck.
Stephen Oransaye in court to answer for his
involvement in a 190 million scandal
According to the EFCC, the former civil service chief
used his position as chair of the presidential committee
on the Financial Action Task Force to fraudulently
obtain N190 million, being part of the N240m grant
which the committee received from the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN).
EFCC, in a statement by its spokesman, Wilson
Uwajaren over the weekend explained that the two
fresh count charges for which Orosanya is standing
trial for at the FCT Federal High Court is different
form those the accused person alongside others are
facing at the Federal High Court, Abuja.