The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abdullahi Alao

  • Oil marketers lose bid to quash subsidy charge

    Three oil marketers -Mahmud Tukur, Alex Ochonogor and Abdullahi Alao – on Wednesday lost in their bid to quash the N1.5 billion fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, dismissed the application filed by the defendants and their firms – Eterna Plc and Axe Energy Limited – for lack of merit.

    The defendants are facing a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences and forgery preferred against them by the EFCC.

    The agency had alleged that they obtained the money from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 80.3 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    Their counsels – Messrs Olaniran Obele, Ebun Adegoruwa and Aderemi Oguntoye – however argued that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case.

    They maintained that the proof of evidence did not support the offences alleged against the defendants.

    According to them, the criminal charge against their clients was an abuse of court process and should be struck out.

    The defence lawyers further argued that the EFCC failed to obtain a valid fiat from the Attorney-General of Lagos State to empower them to prosecute the defendants before the state high court.

    They said the issues in dispute related to fuel importation and revenue of the Federal Government hence the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the charges.

    But EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), in his response urged the court to dismiss the application because the issues raised had already being decided by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.

     

     

  • Subsidy fraud: Court summons EFCC witness

    Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Monday summoned a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Engr. Kehinde Akinmolayan for repeatedly failing to appear in court to give evidence.

    Akinmolayan is expected to give evidence in support of the prosecution in the ongoing trial of an oil marketer, Opeyemi Ajuyah, who is standing trial for alleged fuel subsidy fraud.

    Ajuyah and her company – Majope Investment Limited  are standing trial alongside another oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao and his company – Axe Eneryg Nigeria Limited and Olanrewaju Olalusi, a staff of Sterling Bank Plc.

    The company has denied the allegation.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that Akimolayan, who is a principal witness in the trial, has refused to honour invitations to give evidence in the matter.

    Oyedepo claimed the witness had alleged that some persons were after his life and the people attempted to gain entrance into his house.

  • Marketers urgecourt to quash charge

    Marketers urgecourt to quash charge

    Two oil marketers – Mahmud Tukur and Alex Ochonogor – have asked an Ikeja High Court to quash the N1.8 billion fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    They filed the request via a preliminary notice of objection.

    Charged alongside with them is Abdullahi Alao, the son of Ibadan-based business mogul, Aare Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao. They are facing a nine-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and use of false documents.

    Also to answer charges before the court is Tukur’s company, Eterna Plc.

    The EFCC alleged that the defendants obtained N1.8 billion from the Federal Government for purported importation of 80.3 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).

    Moving the objection application, their counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), said the proof of evidence did not support the offences alleged against his clients.

    Oyetibo said the criminal charge preferred against the accused was an abuse of court process, which should be struck out in the interest of justice.

    EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said Section 260 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State prohibited the court from entertaining such applications.

    He said: “A company, on its own, cannot commit an offence. It has to use human beings to do so.”

    Jacobs urged the court to dismiss the application for being premature and lacking in merit.

    Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo adjourned the matter till June 27  for ruling.

     

  • Subsidy scam: Oil marketers move to quash charges

    Two oil marketers –  Mahmud Tukur and Alex Ochonogor, have asked  a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja to quash the N1.8 billion fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    Their request is contained in a preliminary notice of objection filed before the court presided by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.

    Charged alongside the two oil marketers is Abdullahi Alao, the son of Ibadan based business mogul, Alhaji Alao Arishekola on a nine-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and use of false documents.

    Also to answer charges before the court is Tukur’s company – Eterna Plc.

    The EFCC had alleged that the defendants allegedly obtained N1.8 billion from the Federal Government for a purported importation of 80.3 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

    Counsel to the defendants, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), while moving the application, said the proof of evidence did not support the offences alleged against his clients.

    Oyetibo said the criminal charge preferred against them was an abuse of court process which should be struck out in the interest of justice.

    In view of this, he submitted that the court should discharge and acquit the defendants of the charges brought against them by the commission.

    Oyetibo told the court that the charges against the defendants arose from a joint venture agreement between Eterna Plc, Axenergy Limited, Sahara Energy Resources and Ontario Oil for the importation of fuel into the country.

    Oyetibo said it was not proper for Tukur and Ochonogor, who are the Managing Director and Head of Financial Control of Eterna Plc to be charged for the alleged offences.

  • Subsidy scam: Court dismisses Arisekola son’s applications

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Friday dismissed three applications filed by an oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao, who is being prosecuted for an alleged N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trial judge, Justice Lateefat Okunnu, dismissed the applications for “being an abuse of court processes.”

    One of the dismissed applications had prayed the court to set aside its October 21 ruling which dismissed Alao’s previous application to quash the charges.

    The other application had urged the court to stay further proceedings on the trial, pending the determination of Alao’s appeal against the ruling at the Court of Appeal, Lagos.

    The third application had sought for a referral of the matter to the Court of Appeal, for a case slated for hearing.

    In her ruling, Okunnu struck out the applications on the grounds that the prayers being sought for had been previously determined by the Supreme Court in other matters.

    She said Section 277 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State subject states that “an appeal for stay of proceedings shall not be entertained until judgment is delivered in a criminal matter.

    “It is a roundabout attempt to stall proceedings and an abuse of the process of the court,” the judge held.

    Okunnu, therefore, adjourned the matter till February 27, 2014 for continuation of trial.

     

  • Lagos CJ to judge: Continue with Arisekola son’s trial

    Lagos CJ to judge: Continue with Arisekola son’s trial

    The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, has directed Justice Lateefat Okunnu to continue presiding over the trial of an oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao, and four others for fuel subsidy fraud.

    Okunnu made this known on Tuesday at the resumed trial of Alao and the others before the Lagos High Court, Ikeja.

    Abdullahi, son of a prominent businessman, Alhaji Abdullazeez Arisekola-Alao, was charged with N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

    He is facing trial alongside two other oil marketers, Olarenwaju Olalusi and Opeyemi Ajuyah, and their companies – Majope Investment Limited and Axenergy Limited.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Alao had on October 23, petitioned the Chief Judge, asking her to transfer the case from Okunnu to another judge.

    He had claimed in the petition that Okunnu was biased, and that he would not get justice from her.

    During Tuesday’s proceedings, Okunnu informed the parties in the suit that the chief judge had directed her to continue with the trial.

    She noted that there were pending applications before the court which must be heard before continuation of the trial.

    NAN reports that one of the pending applications was filed by Alao.

    He is asking the court to set aside its ruling which dismissed his previous application to quash the charges.

    The other pending application was filed by Olalusi.

    He is seeking the release of his international passport to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    The court adjourned the case to December 6 for hearing of the pending applications.

     

     

  • Arisekola son’s bid to quash subsidy charge dismissed

    Arisekola son’s bid to quash subsidy charge dismissed

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Monday dismissed an application by an oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao, seeking to quash the fuel subsidy fraud charge against him and four others.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the application was dismissed by Justice Lateefat Okunnu for lacking in merit.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on October 10 last year charged Abdullahi, son of a prominent businessman, Alhaji Abdullazeez Arisekola-Alao, to court.

    He was charged alongside two other oil marketers, Olarenwaju Olalusi and Opeyemi Ajuyah, and their companies -Majope Investment Limited and Axenergy Limited for fuel subsidy related scam.

    The defendants were alleged to have obtained N1.1 billion from the Federal Government for the importation of 15,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    Okunnu, while ruling on the application to quash charges filed by Alao’s counsel, Mr. Oluwaseun Awonuga, held that the charge before the court was competent.

    The judge dismissed the defence submission that the fiat obtained by the EFCC from the Attorney-General of Lagos State had “expired.”

    She held that the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation were empowered to prosecute criminal offences under state laws, even without a fiat from the state’s attorney-general.

    Okunnu said: “Section 211 (1) of the Constitution allows for circumstances in which any other body other than the Attorney-General can institute criminal proceedings against a person.

    “The EFCC Act, which is an Act of the National Assembly, also empowers the agency to prosecute criminal matters under a state law,” she said.

    The judge noted that the EFCC Act and the Constitution were superior to any law passed by a state House of Assembly.

    She also held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State 2011 gave powers to the EFCC to prosecute the defendants before a state high court.

     

  • How Arisekola’s son, others obtained subsidy fund – Witness

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, heard on Wednesday how three oil marketers, including Abdulai Alao, son of an Ibadan- based business mogul, Alhaji Abdulaziz Arisekola- Alao forged documents to obtain N1.1 billion fuel subsidy payment from the Petroleum Subsidy Fund.

    The other two oil marketers are – Opeyemi Ajuyah and Olarenwaju Olalusi while their oil companies are Majope Investment Limited and Axenergy Limited.

    A prosecution witness, Mr. Oliver Chineke, told the court presided by Justice Lateefat Okunnu that the document used to commit the fraud did not emanate from his comapny, Q and Q Control Marine Services Nigeria Limited.

    The witness said his company was contracted by Oando Oil and Gas Plc to inspect the quantity of products brought in by a vessel, MT Brave on behalf of Majope Investment Limited.

    Chineke, a former Lagos branch manager of Q and Q Control Marine Services Nigeria Limited, who was led in evidence by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Francis Usani , told the court that he delegated one of his company’s surveyor, Mr. Mohammed Adedapo to inspect the vessel that brought the product.

    Chineke, who corroborated what Adedapo had earlier told the court said that it was discovered that out of the 15,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) brought in, only 4,000 metric tonnes was discharged at the Lister Jetty in Apapa between January 22 and 23, 2011.

    He said the remaining 11 metric tonnes of PMS remaining in the vessel was taken away.

     

     

  • How Arisekola’s son, others perfected subsidy scam – Witness

    How Arisekola’s son, others perfected subsidy scam – Witness

    Three oil marketers, Abdullahi Alao, Opeyemi Ajuyah and Olarenwaju Olalusi were on Wednesday alleged to have forged the documents with which they perpetrated N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

    A prosecution witness, Mr. Mohammed Adedapo, made the allegation while testifying at the resumed trial of the marketers before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

    The marketers and their firms, Axenergy Limited and Majope Investment Limited were charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged subsidy frauds.

    Adedapo, who is an inspector of petroleum products of Q and Q Control Marine Services Nigeria Limited told the court that Alao, who is the son of Ibadan business mogul, Abdulazeez Arisekola- Alao and other defendants allegedly obtained subsidy for 15,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products as against the 4,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products that was imported.

    The witness said the discharge was done at Lister Jetty in Apapa between January22 and 23, 2011.

    Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr. Francis Usani, the witness said Q and Q was contracted by Oando Oil and Gas Plc to inspect the quantity of products brought in by a vessel, MT Brief on behalf of Majope Investment Limited.

    Adedapo maintained that the vessel that brought the petroleum products allegedly discharged about 4,000 metric tonnes of the products into the facility while it took away the remaining quantity of the product.

    He claimed that following the discrepancy discovered in the transaction, he wrote a protest letter to the captain of the ship to complain and state the fact of the transaction.

     

     

  • Subsidy scam: EFCC commences trial of Arisekola-Alao’s son

    Subsidy scam: EFCC commences trial of Arisekola-Alao’s son

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday began the trial of Abdullahi Alao, son of prominent businessman, Alhaji Abdullazeez Arisekola-Alao, before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja.

    Abdullahi Alao and two others alongside their companies were charged before Justice Lateefat Okunnu for fraudulently obtaining N1.1 billion fuel subsidy payment from the Federal Government.

    The other two oil marketers are Opeyemi Ajuyah and Olarenwaju Olalusi while their companies are Majope Investment Limited and Axenergy Limited.

    At the opening of trial before the court presided by Justice Okunnu on Monday, the EFCC called its first witness, Mrs. Brenda Ataga, an employee of Oando Oil and Gas Plc, to testify against the defendants.

    The witness, who was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr. Francis Usani, said Oando had entered into an agreement with Majope Investment in 2010 for the supply of 15,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    Ataga said Majope was to discharge the products at the Lister Jetty in Apapa that was being used as a tank farm by Oando before January 4, 2011.

    According to her, Oando appointed a surveyor, Q and Q Control Services Limited to inspect the products when it was brought by Majope Investment.

    “At the end of the day, instead of supplying the 15,000 metric tonnes as agreed, Majope Investment Limited discharged about 4,700 metric tonnes into the facility,” she claimed.

    She said Oando Oil and Gas Plc paid Majope Investment Limited about N320 million for the 4,700 metric tonnes of PMS discharged into its facility.

    Ataga said Ajuyah later told her that the business relationship was suspended due to the cost of demurrage the vessel had incurred off-shore.