The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned two oil marketers, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Habila Theck, on an amended charge of N976.6 million fuel subsidy theft.
The marketers were re-arraigned alongside their company, Fargo Petroleum and Gas Ltd., before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos High Court in Ikeja.
The accused are facing a 10-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery, uttering and use of forged documents among others.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned two oil marketers, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Habila Theck, on an amended charge of N976.6 million fuel subsidy theft.
The marketers were re-arraigned alongside their company, Fargo Petroleum and Gas Ltd., before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos High Court in Ikeja.
The accused are facing a 10-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery, uttering and use of forged documents among others.
EFCC counsel, Mr Francis Usani, alleged that the defendants conspired with one Olugbegan Adesanya (still at large) to fraudulently obtain N976.6 million from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Usani alleged that the defendants obtained the money as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) for the purported importation of 13.6 million litres of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS).
He said that the PMS was purportedly purchased from one Seatac Petroleum Ltd., and imported into Nigeria through MT Diplomat and MT Milleura.
Usani further alleged that the defendants had on Oct. 14, in Lagos, forged a document entitled Certificate of Origin, Port of Loading Antwerp, Belgium, which was used to facilitate the fraud.
Usani added that the defendants falsely claimed that the document was issued by Seatac Petroleum Ltd.
According to him, the offences contravened Sections 1, (sub-sections 1,2,3) and 8 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
Usani also said that the offences contravened Sections 363 and 364 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The judge ordered that the defendants should continue to enjoy the N20 million bail granted them by the court after their initial arraignment for the same offences on July 30.
The matter was adjourned till Dec. 5 for trial.
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