Five suspected fuel subsidy fraudsters were today re-arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Ikeja High Court for defrauding the Federal Government of over N1Billion.
The suspects; Anosyke Group of Companies, Ifeanyi Anosike, Dell Energy Limited, Emeka Chukwu
and Ngozi Ekeoma were previously arraigned before Justice Habeeb Abiru on the same charge.
The matter was however discontinued at Justice Abiru’s court following his elevation to the court of Appeal and re assigned to Justice Onigbanjo.
The suspects are facing an eight count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence; forgery and uttering false documents to the tune of N1.5 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alleged that the suspects between March 2011 and January 2012 fraudulently received payments from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported supply of 15, 000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit.
The suspects were also alleged to have forged shipping documents comprising of a bill of laden and a certificate of quantity to fraudulently substantiate their claim of importing 15 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.
All the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Onigbanjo subsequently allowed them to continue on the terms of bail earlier granted them by Justice Abiru.
The matter has been adjourned till 3 and 4 July, 2013 for trial.
Meanwhile the trial of Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, Mamman Ali and Christian Taylor over a similar charge of defrauding the federal government of N4.5bn under the subsidy scheme continued today in the same court.
At today’s proceeding, a prosecution witness, Chidi Onyejokwe told the court that the certificate of cargo transfer, haulage report and certificate of quantity which the suspects presented to the government for fuel subsidy payment were forged.
Mr Onyejokwe who is a Manager at the Inspectorate of Marine Services also identified other documents which the suspects used in defrauding the government.
The document were admitted by the court as exhibits.
The matter has been adjourned to 20 March, 2013 for continuation of trial.
