EFCC re-arraigns Ali’s son, others over alleged oil subsidy fraud
For alleged complicity in the N4.5 billion fuel subsidy fraud, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Mamman Ali, son of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP) Ahmadu Ali and two others before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.
Meanwhile, a Managing Partner in Chief Afe Babalola Chambers , Mr Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN) has refuted the allegation that the law firm received payment from a Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua to represent former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Ishaya Bamaiyi in a suit.
EFCC docked Mamman Ali alongside another oil marketer, Christian Taylor and his company, Nasaman Oil Services Ltd before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.
In the amended charge filed by the anti-graft commission, the counts of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and use of false documents were increased from nine to 49.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the count charge preferred against them.
On July 26, 2012 the defendants were arraigned and their trial had commenced before their co-defendant, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, absconded necessitating the EFCC to amend the charge against the defendants for re-arraignment.
The counsel to the EFCC , Mr Seidu Atteh told the court that the defendants had fraudulently obtained N4.5 billion from the Federal Government between January 2011 and April 2012.
He stated that the money was for subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 30.5million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.(petrol).
Also, EFCC alleged that the defendants forged a bill of lading and other documents used in facilitating the fraud.
Their offences contravene Sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006 and Sections 363(a) and 364 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
Justice Onigbanjo therefore allowed defendants (Ali and Taylor) to continue to enjoy the N20 million earlier bail granted them and subsequently adjourned trial till June 30,2015.
Adenipekun stated this yesterday while testifying before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja in the trial of a court registrar, Oluronke Rosulu who allegedly aided Ajudua to dupe Bamaiyi.
Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Mr Seidu Atteh, Adenipekun told court that he was the chamber’s head of administration during the period of the said transaction.
According to him, Ajudua did not brief our firm to represent Bamaiyi at any time. That is not correct. We did not receive any legal fees from Ajudua in respect of Bamaiyi .
“We were never briefed to represent Bamaiyi and we did not receive any money from Ajudua,” Adenipekun added.
After his brief testimony, the court adjourned the further hearing till today .
Bamaiyi had alleged that Rosulu, a former registrar to Justice Joseph Oyewole, collected $330,000 from him on behalf of Ajudua on November 20, 2004.
He further claimed that the amount was part payment of the legal fees requested by Afe Babalola Chambers to represent him (Bamaiyi) while he was remanded alongside Ajudua in Kirikiri Maximum Prison.
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1 Comments
Yeah thats the end of the Stories like others they have charge too
We will review and take appropriate action.