The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned Air Vice Marshall Olutayo Oguntoyinbo (rtd) before Justice Olukayode A. Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
The former senior military officer was arraigned on one count charge of bribery to the tune of N166million.
The charge alleged that Oguntoyinbo committed the offence while being the Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Air Force.
It said the accused person collected the money as gratification from a contractor with the Nigerian Air Force, Societe D’ Equipment Internationaux Nigeria Limited.
The charged held that the act contravened Section 17(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 17(c) of the same Act.
The charge reads in part: “that you, AVM Olutayo Tade Oguntoyinbo while serving as Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Air force on July 11, 2014 did accept a gift in the sum (N166,000,000) from Societe D’ Equipment Internationaux Nigeria Limited’’.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Mr Francis Jirbo, asked the court for a date for hearing.
However, Oguntoyinbo’s counsel, Mr Henry Ihun, prayed the court to grant bail to the accused on liberal terms.
The EFCC counsel immediately kicked against application, saying the defendant counsel had served him with the bail application in Court.
He said he required some time to prepare his argument against the application.
The presiding judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi ordered that the accused person be remanded in Kuje Prison pending hearing on the bail application.
He adjourned the matter until June 6.
