The chairman of Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited, Mr. Jide Omokore is in fresh trouble as a Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application seeking an order dismissing the $1.6 billion fraud charges instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a bench ruling delivered after hearing the application, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba refused to strike out an additional proof of evidence exhibiting the statement made to the EFCC by an additional proposed prosecution witness on June 7, 2017.

The EFCC is prosecuting Jide Omokore on 9-counts of criminal diversion of about $1.6 billion alleged to be part of proceeds of the sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

Part of the offences were said to be contrary to section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.