by Isi Esene
Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Ikeja High Court earlier today remanded ten individuals allegedly involved in the misappropriation of oil subsidy funds obtained from the Federal Government.
Abiru ruled that the suspects be held in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody pending hearing on their bail application on October 19.
The oil subsidy suspects arraigned before the court today are: Anosyke Group of Companies Ltd., Ifeanyi Anosike; Dell Energy Ltd.; Emeka Chukwu and Ngozi Ekeoma.
Others are Downstream Energy Sources Ltd., Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Maula, Rocky Energy Ltd., George Ogbonna and Emmanuel.
According to reports, Anosyke Group of Companies, Ifeanyi Anosike, Dell Energy Limited, Emeka Chukwu and Ngozi Ekeoma were arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretense, forgery and altering documents to the tune of N1,537,278,880.82, being payments fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported supply of 15, 000 metric tonnes of premium motor spirit.
Downstream Energy Sources Limited, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Maula, Rocky Energy Limited, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morah were similarly arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense; conspiracy to forge documents, forgery and altering documents to the tune of N789,648,329.25, being payments fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported supply of 14,273,0227 litres of premium motor spirit.
According to the prosecution, the suspects received fuel subsidy funds from the federal government on petroleum products not imported into the country. They were accused of forging different bills of laden in order to fraudulently obtain the said money.
All the accused individuals pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter till October 19, 2012 for hearing on bail.
