The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on
Friday re-arraigned three oil marketers--- Opeyemi Ajuyah, Abdullahi Alao and
Olarenwaju Olalusi-- over an alleged N1.1 billion fuel-subsidy fraud.
The defendants were charged before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of
an Ikeja High Court.
They were re-arraigned on an amended eight-count charge
alongside their companies--- Majope Investment Ltd., and Axenergy Ltd.
NAN also reports that the defendants had been previously
arraigned on Oct.10, 2012 on a nine-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money
by false pretence, forgery and use of fake documents.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted
bail then.
However, on Friday, the EFCC counsel, Mr Seidu Atteh,
informed the court that the prosecution had amended the charges.
Atteh, therefore, asked the court to direct the defendants
to retake their pleas and his request was granted.
He said the defendants had fraudulently obtained N1.1
billion from the Federal Government between January 2011 and April 2012.
Atteh said the money was for subsidy payments from the
Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 15 million litres of
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The defendants were also alleged to have forged a bill of
lading, cargo manifest and other documents which they used in facilitating the
fraud.
The alleged offences were said to contravene Sections 1(3)
of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.
The offences also violated Sections 363(a) and 364 of the
Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 363(1)
stipulates that the offender on conviction is liable to three years’
imprisonment.
The defendants , however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the arraignment, Atteh sought the leave of the
court to recall five prosecution witnesses who had previously testified in the
trial.
The judge granted his request and adjourned the matter till
Oct.20 for trial.
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