The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday said a staff of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency(PPPRA), Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer, a director with Akintola Williams Deliote accounting firm, Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele and 18 others for trial in connection with alleged fuel subsidy fraud of N13, 403,504,083billion.
The suspects will face trial for purportedly importing about 237million litres of petroleum products which the anti-graft commission could not trace.
According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the affected suspects will face trial in Lagos courts.
The commission said the 20 suspects belong to the first batch of 140 individuals and organizations being investigated over fuel subsidy scam.
A breakdown of the suspects showed that seven companies and 13 individuals are involved.
The statement said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has concluded arrangements to prosecute the first batch of 18 suspects implicated in the oil subsidy fraud. The suspects, comprising six oil companies and 11 individuals, will be docked in Lagos courts.
“The companies involved are: Nasaman Oil Services; Eternal Oil and Gas Plc; Ontario Oil & Gas Plc; Nadabo Energy Limited; Pacific Silver Line Limited, Axenergy Limited and Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited.
“The 12 individuals involved in the scam are: Mamman Nasir Ali; Christian Taylor; Mahmud Tukur; Ochonogor Alex; Walter Wagbatsoma; Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi; Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer; Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele; Abubakar Ali Peters; Jude Agube Abalaka, Abdulahi Alao and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo.
“Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele is director of the accounting firm, Akintola Williams Deliote while Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer is a staff of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulating Agency, PPPRA.”
Out of the suspects, the EFCC said Abdulahi Alao will face double trial, making the number of suspects to be 20.
But Alao will however be docked in another separate charge.
The statement gave the details of findings against the suspects, especially how they purportedly imported over 237million litres of petroleum products and benefited from fuel subsidy.
“Nasaman Oil Services; Mamman Nasir and Christian Taylor are to face charges bordering on obtaining N4, 460, 130, 797. 94billion from the Federal Government of Nigeria under false pretence.
“The sum is alleged to have been fraudulently obtained as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 30.5million litres of Premium Motor Spirit from SEATAC Petroleum Limited of British Virgin Islands .
“In the same vein, the anti-graft agency will equally prosecute Abdulahi Alao and Axenergy Limited for allegedly obtaining the sum of N2, 640, 141, 707.75billion being payments received from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 33.3 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
“Others include Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex; Abdulahi Alao and Eternal Oil And Gas Plc who will be docked for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1, 899, 238, 946. 02billion from the Petroleum support Fund for a purported importation of 80.3million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
“Also, Nadabo Energy Limited, Abubakar Ali Peters, Jude Agube Abalaka and Pacific Silver Line Limited are to be prosecuted for allegedly obtaining the sum of N1, 464, 961, 978.24billion being payments fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 19.4million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
“Walter Wagbatsoma; Adaoha Ugo -Ngadi; Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer; Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele and Ontario Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited will be arraigned for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1, 959, 377, 542, .63billion from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 39.2 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
“Lastly, Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo are to be docked for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N979,653,110.20million from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 33, 627, 84 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.”
The EFCC assured that more suspects will be arraigned periodically.
The statement added: “The 20 suspects are among the over 140 individuals and organisations involved in the on- going investigations into the subsidy payments by the EFCC.
“More suspects will be arraigned periodically as the investigation progresses.
“This investigation is massive and extensive; and the Commission wishes to reassure Nigerians that every effort will be made to bring all those who defrauded the country in the guise of subsidy for imported fuel to book. "
Culled: The Nation
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