N13bn fuel subsidy scam trial: Tukur, Ahmadu Ali’s sons granted bail

Posted by admin Latest Politics, Party Politics, Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) Friday, July 27th, 2012

Photo:

Sun News Publishing

By:

AKEEB ALARAPE

Date:

Thu, 07/26/2012 – 21:19

Mahmud, Mamman Nasir and Abdullahi, sons of Bamanga Tukur, Ahmadu Ali, Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao respectively and other oil marketers and their companies were formally arraigned yesterday at the Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja. Ali is former chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Tukur is the incumbent. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the nouveau riche children to court over alleged complicity in the fuel subsidy scam.

They were some of the firms and individuals indicted by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee that probed the fuel subsidy payments. They were arraigned before Justices Habeeb Abiru and Adeniyi Onigbanjo. But while Mahmud Tukur and Mamman Nasir Ali were lucky as the court granted them bail, Arisekola-Alao’s son, Abdullahi, was remanded in EFCC’s custody till next Wednesday.

They were charged with conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents to obtain money from the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF). Two separate cases also came before Justice Abiru, one of which involved five defendants including an oil company, namely Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha-Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer, Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele and Ontario Oil & Gas Nig. Ltd.

While the second case involved Abdullahi Alao and his company, who was also arraigned before Justice Onigbanjo. For the first case, the arraignment was stalled due to the absence of the first and fifth defendants, Walter Wagbatsoma and his company, Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited. The defendants were, however, remanded in EFCC custody pending when they will be properly docked on August 1. Counsel to the first and fifth defendants, Mr. Babajide Koku (SAN), told the judge that his client was not in court because he was out of the country.

“We have spoken to him and he is making arrangement to appear in court to defend the charges against him.“He would have been here this morning, but he has a problem with his flight, he promised to get a connecting flight and should be back by Monday,” Koku said.

But counsel to Ugo-Ngadi, Ebenezer and Ejide, the second, third and fourth defendants, respectively, Mr. Wale Akoni, (SAN), Abimbola Odeyemi and James Ogunyemi respectively, urged the court to separate their clients’ trial from the first and fifth defendants to enable their clients to be properly arraigned and their bail applications moved.

Justice Abiru, in his short ruling, however, rejected the request of counsel to the second, third and fourth defendants, saying the request was premature at that stage. He then adjourned till August 1, 2012. Alao, who is facing seven-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents, was arraigned, but his bail application could not be taken as the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs from the EFCC, said he needed time to respond to the application, served on him yesterday morning. The court adjourned further hearing on the case till August 1, while Alao was asked to remain in EFCC custody till then.

Those arraigned before Justice Onigbanjo also in two separate charges are; Nasaman Oil Services, Mamman Nasir Ali and Christian Taylor, a Sierra-Leonean, for the first case and Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdulahi Alao and Eterna Oil and Gas Ltd for the second case. The defendants for both cases before Justice Onigbanjo were, however, granted bail as moved by their counsel, Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), in the first case and Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and Olajide Koku (SAN) in the second case respectively. The judge granted them bail for N20 million, each with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties, according to the court, must be a blood relation of each of the defendants and must have landed property in Lagos worth not less than N200 million and with a verifiable title documents.

The other surety must be a level 16 civil servant (state of federal) and must provide three years tax clearance which must be verified by the Chief Registrar of the High Court.

The court also ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the EFCC. The court later adjourned sitting in the case involving Nasaman Oil Services, Ali and Taylor till October 30, while that of Tukur, Alex, Alao and Eterna Oil and Gas Plc was put off till November 13.

-via Sunwp_posts