Ikeja – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday began the trial of an oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao, over an alleged N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abdullahi, son of prominent Ibadan-based businessman, Alhaji Abdullazeez Arisekola-Alao, is being prosecuted before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court.
He was charged to court, alongside two other oil marketers, Opeyemi Ajuyah and Olarenwaju Olalusi, and their companies— Majope Investment Ltd. and Axenergy Ltd.
The accused persons are facing an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences, forgery, uttering and use of false documents.
During Monday’s proceedings, the EFCC counsel, Mr Francis Usani, called the prosecution’s first witness, Mrs Brenda Ataga, to testify against the accused persons.
Ataga, a staff of Oando Oil and Gas Plc, told the court that Majope Investment Ltd. had entered into an agreement with Oando Oil and Gas Plc in 2010.
She said the agreement was for Majope Investment Ltd. to supply 15,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to Lister Jetty Facility being used by Oando Plc.
The witness said: “The product was supposed to be supplied not later than Jan. 4, 2011 but the ship did not arrive until Jan. 20, 2011.
“We appointed Q and Q Control Services Ltd., to inspect the quality and quantity of the products being brought into the facility.
“At the end of the day, instead of supplying the 15,000 metric tonnes as agreed, Majope Investment Ltd. discharged about 4,700 metric tonnes into the facility.”
Ataga said when she contacted Ajuyah, she was told that the discharge was suspended due to the cost of demurrage the vessel had incurred off-shore.
She said Oando Oil and Gas Plc paid Majope Investment Ltd. about N320 million for the 4,700 metric tonnes of PMS discharged into its facility.
The EFCC, however, alleged that Ajuyah, after the said transaction, conspired with Alao and others, to fraudulently obtain subsidy payment for 15,000 metric tonnes from the Federal Government.
The judge adjourned the matter till May 14 for continuation of trial. (NAN)
VANGUARD
adv
No comments:
Post a Comment