I am not on trial for N600M fraud – Ex-PICOMSS’ boss, Saliu Atawodi

The former Chairman, Presidential implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security (PICOMSS), Air Vice- Marshal Saliu Atawodi (Rtd) has debunked the claims making the rounds in some section of the media that he is currently facing trial for alleged N600m fraud.

Atawodi while speaking through his media consultant, Duro Meseko, frowned at the recent report on the front page of a national newspaper, claiming that the retired General and others are on trial over N102b fraud.

“In the report, AVM Atawodi was listed amongst 12 other military generals currently undergoing various court trials in the country bothering on alleged multibillion Naira fraud. The report claimed that Atawodi is still undergoing trial for alleged 600 Million Naira fraud.

“We hereby make haste to say that AVM Atawodi is not undergoing any trial for fraud as mischievously claimed . Had the New Telegraph done its home work well, it would have realized that the Appeal Court had on June 7, 2017 discharged and acquitted AVM Atawodi of any wrong doing in the alleged 600 Million Naira Fraud case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against him. The judgment of the court was lavishly used as news item by several national dailies, radio and television Stations.

“The question is: What does New Telegraph stand to gain with this false and malicious publication? Else, how can the photograph and name of a citizen that has been discharged and acquitted by a competent Court of law be prominently displaced on the front page of a National Daily still being accused of standing trial for fraud!

“ We therefore make bold to say that the publication on Atawodi is false, vexatious, malicious and libelous in its entirely.”

It would be recalled that in 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the former chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety (PICOMSS), Air Vice Marshal Saliu Atawodi (rtd), one Mr. Rabiu Hassan and his company, Hypertech Nigeria Limited, before Justice U.P Kekemeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The duo were docked on a three- count charge of conspiracy, abuse of office and misappropriation of public
funds.

They were allegedly accused of defrauding the Federal Government to the sum of N620 Million through suspicious contracts to procure K38 armoured patrol boats that were to be used to fight illegal oil bunkering on the nation’s waters.