Air Vice Marshall Tony Omenyi (rtd), who is standing trial for allegedly diverting over N136 million meant for purchase of arms by the military, opened his defence on Thursday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on April 17, 2018 closed its case against him, after presenting its fifth witness, Goji Mohammed, who told the court that in the course of investigating the arms deal scandal, suspicious transactions were linked to Omenyi and Huzee Nigeria Limited.

“We discovered that Huzee Nigeria Limited was incorporated by the first defendant and maintained a corporate account with FCMB in which he was a co-signatory,” he said.

Omenyi is being prosecuted along with Huzee Nigeria Limited, on an amended three-count charge preferred against him by the EFCC.

At yesterday’s proceeding, Omenyi’s counsel, Goddy Uche, SAN, presented his first witness, Idegwe Onewe, a staff of FCMB.

Onewe, told the court that she was the branch manager for FCMB located at Gana Street, Abuja and served as the account officer for Omenyi and his two companies.

“I know Air Vice Marshal Tony Omenyi and his companies, Huzee Nigeria Limited and Sky Experts Nigeria Limited, and they are my customers,” she said.

She told the court that she was invited by the EFCC sometimes in 2015 and made statements as it relates to her relationship with the defendant.

Under cross-examination by prosecuting counsel, M.S. Abubakar, she further testified that Omenyi while a serving military officer was a director in Huzee Nigeria Limited and Sky Expert limited, and maintained a corporate account with FCMB in which he was a co-signatory.

“The company was incorporated as a major supply of Aircraft and I signed the documents with respect to the transactions,” she added.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court has adjourned further hearing to June 25 and July 4, 2018.

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