The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC today re-arraigned
Mamman Ali, son of former Chairman of
the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmadu Ali
and two others for alleged complicity in
N4.5 billion fuel subsidy fraud.
Ali was re-arraigned alongside another oil
marketer, Christian Taylor and his company
— Nasaman Oil Services Ltd before Justice
Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos State High
Court in Ikeja.
The defendants were previously arraigned
on July 26, 2012 and their trial had
commenced before their co-defendant,
Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, absconded.
This prompted the EFCC to amend the
charge against the defendants which led to
the re-arraignment.
In the amended charge, counts of
conspiracy, obtaining money by false
pretences, forgery and use of false
documents were increased from nine to 49.
The EFCC counsel, Mr Seidu Atteh said the
defendants had fraudulently obtained N4.5
billion from the Federal Government
between January 2011 and April 2012.
Atteh said the money was for subsidy
payments from the Petroleum Support
Fund for the purported importation of
30.5million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
The defendants were also alleged to have
forged a bill of lading and other documents
which they used in facilitating the fraud.
The alleged offences were said to
contravene Sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee
Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act
of 2006.
The offences also violated Sections 363(a)
and 364 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State
2011.
The defendants again pleaded not guilty to
the charge.
Following the arraignment, the judge
allowed Ali and Taylor to continue to enjoy
the N20 million bail which he had earlier
granted them after their initial arraignment
on July 26.
Atteh told the court that the prosecution
was ready to continue with the trial
following its inability to apprehend
Ogunbambo.
The matter was adjourned till June 30 for
trial.