Another Nigerian oil marketer faces the music

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Henry Ojelu/Judiciary correspondent

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today arraigned an oil marketer, Rowaye Jubril before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos State High Court for an alleged N963.7 million fuel subsidy fraud.

Jubril was arraigned alongside his company, Brila Energy Limited on a 13- count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and uttering.

EFCC counsel, Mr Seidu Atteh alleged that the defendants had between October 2010 and May 2011 in Lagos fraudulently obtained the sum of N963.7 million from the Federal Government.

Atteh alleged that the defendants obtained the money from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 17.3million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

They were also alleged to have forged documents including certificate of cargo transfer, certificate of origin and cargo manifest.

Atteh said their alleged offences contravened Sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.

According to him, it also contravened Sections 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003.

Jubril pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The judge in a ruling on the bail application granted him bail in the sum of N75 million with two sureties in like sum.

Okunnu said the sureties are to be gainfully employed and must deposed to an affidavit of means.

She said one of the sureties must own a landed property in Lagos State while the other surety must be a director in a public or private quoted company in Nigeria.

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She said the sureties must produce three years tax clearance and that their documents should be verified by an officer from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge ordered him to deposit his international passport and other travelling documents with the chief registrar and must not travel without the court’s permission.

She also directed Jubril to report once every month to the EFCC office during the duration of the trial.

The matter was adjourned to 23 January, 2013 for trial.

Meanwhile, the trial of Mahmud Tukur, son of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and three others accused of N1.8 billion fuel subsidy fraud has been adjourned to 13 December, 2012.

Tukur is being prosecuted alongside Abdullahi Alao, Ochonogor Alex and Eternal Oil and Gas Plc before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos High Court.

At the resumed proceedings on today, counsel to the defendants, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), said their clients were having discussions with the EFCC over the charges preferred against them.

Olanipekun said:” We have studied the processes filed by the prosecution against our clients. As senior counsel,we owe it as a duty to our clients to enter into discussion with the prosecution regarding the charges.

“We are therefore asking the court to give us more time to engage in this discussion so that the matter can be speedily resolved”.

EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) confirmed that talks were ongoing between both parties, adding that there was no need to oppose the adjournment.

In his ruling, the judge adjourned the matter to 15 December, 2012 for mention.

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