AVM Atawodi not on Trial for Fraud

Contrary to reports in a national daily, former Chairman, Presidential implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security (PICOMSS), Air Vice- Marshal Saliu Atawodi (Rtd) is not on trial for any offence as falsely reported.

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 AVM Atawodi was still undergoing trial for alleged N600 million fraud.

However, a statement by his media consultant, Hon Duro Meseko debunked the publication as a tissue of lies, adding that were the publishers of the said false story diligent in their report, they would have discovered that his client was not undergoing any trial.

“We hereby make haste to say that AVM Atawodi is not undergoing any trial for fraud as mischievously claimed. Had the Newspaper done its homework well, it would have realised that the Appeal Court had on June 7, 2017 discharged and acquitted AVM Atawodi of any wrong doing in the alleged N600 million 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 the Newspaper 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 displayed on the front page of a national daily still being accused of standing trial for fraud?