Oil Subsidy Scam-EFCC Docks Arisekola's son and 12 more Marketers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned 13 more oil marketers indicted in the abuse of oil subsidy programme of the Federal Government. Those arraigned yesterday and their companies were alleged to have collected about N4billion aggregately, using forged documents.

They appeared before Justices Habeeb Abiru and Lateefa Okunnu in three groups and on separate charges bordering on conspiracy, making false claims and using forged documents in collecting various sums of money from the Federal Government’s Petroleum Support Fund programme.

Abdullah Alao, son of multi-millionaire businessman and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, was, for the third time, charge to court alongside his company and business associates. In the charge sheet of the six-count fresh case, Abdullah, his company, Axenergy Limited, Opeyemi Ajuyah, Majope Investment Limited and one Olanrewaju Olalusi were alleged to have conspired and used forged documents to collect N1, 110, 049, 444. 35 for alleged importation of 15, 206, 733 metric tons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). The case could, however not be heard yesterday, like others, as a reliable EFCC source told Saturday Sun that one of the suspects was still on the wanted list of the anti-graft agency.

Among those arraigned yesterday were two companies; Anosyke Group of Companies Ltd, Dell Energy Ltd and their directors; Ifeanyi Anosike, Emeka Chukwu and Ngozi Ekeoma. They were alleged to have conspired and used forged documents, like bill of lading and other shipping documents to obtain the sum of over N1.4 billion from the subsidy programme of the Federal Government. The EFCC alleged that the defendants claimed to have imported 15, 000 metric tons of premium motor spirit and collected payment for goods not delivered.

When the eight-count charge was read to the defendant before Justice Abiru, they all pleaded not guilty. The judge, therefore, remanded them in EFCC custody and adjourned till October 9, 2012 for argument on their bail application. The second set of oil companies and their directors arraigned before Justice Abiru on eight-count charge included; Downstream Energy Sources Ltd, Adamu Aliyu Maula, Rocky Energy Ltd, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morani.

They were alleged to have collected the sum of N789, 648, 329. 25 from the Federal Government for importing over 14, 000 litres of fuel, which they never did, but alleged to have used false and forged documents. They also pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them. The trial judge remanded the defendants in EFCC custody and fixed October 9 for hearing of their bail application.

The third set of indicted oil company and its directors were arraigned before Justice Lateefa Okunnu on 18-count charge bordering on conspiracy, making false claims and using forged documents to obtain money to the sum of N1,265,204,348.20 from the fuel subsidy fund.

The defendants; A.B.S Investment Company Ltd, Aro Bamidele and Abiodun Bankole, however pleaded not guilty to all the charges and were ordered to be remanded in the custody of EFCC pending the hearing of their bail applications on October 9. While stating that the defendants’ case was yet to be ripe for hearing, Justice Okunnu fixed October 22 and 28 for the commencement of trial of the defendants.