3.1bn Oil Subsidy Fraud: EFCC Re-arraigns Ex-PDP Chairman’s Son, Others
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday re-arraigned Mahmud Tukur, the son of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur and five others before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged N3.1 billion oil subsidy fraud.
Also docked alongside Tukur are the son of late Ibadan businessman, Chief Alao Arisekola, Abdullahi, Ochonogor Alex and their companies, Eterna Plc, Axenergy Limited and Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited.
They were all re-arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi on a 38 counts charge of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence.
According to the EFCC the defendants allegedly conspired among themselves to obtain a sum to the tune of N3,121,393,098 from the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) under the false pretence that the sum was for the importation of Premium Motor Spirit.
Part of the charge against them reads, “Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao-Arisekola, Eterna Plc, Axenergy, and Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited on, or about April 28, 2011 within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, by false pretence and with an intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N176,385,103.56 from the Federal Government of Nigeria which sum was in excess of the amount due to Eterna Plc as subsidy for the importation of 17,343,668 litres of Premium Motor Spirit by purporting to have imported the product through the mother vessel, MT. Emirates Star, with the bill of lading bearing April 28, 2011, as against the actual mother vessel of Gunhild Kirk with the bill of lading date of April 3, 2011.”
However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
This prompted the counsel to the anti-graft agency, Tayo Olukotun, to make a request for a trial date.
But lawyer to the first and second defendants, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), and counsel representing the third defendant, Aderemi Oguntoye, urged Justice Oshodi to allow their clients to continue to enjoy the terms of the bail earlier granted to them by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi granted the defence lawyers’ request and also adjourned the case till July 7, 2017 for trial.
