Court adjourns trial of oil marketer who falsely claims N1.3bn subsidy payment

THE trial of a petroleum marketer, Olaniran Ogundipe, and his company, Petroleum Broker Nigeria Limited, accused of allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of N1.323, 162, 160.76 billion fuel subsidy claim, has been adjourned till March 8.

Olaniran and his company were arraigned before the court March 19, 2014.

Justice Hadizat Rabiu Shagari, adjourned the matter following the inability of the prosecutor, Abdullahi Dania to furnish the court with the original copies of documents he intended to use in prosecuting the defendant and his company.

The prosecutor had informed the court that the original documents that he intends to tender in the matter were with his co-prosecutor, Mr Effiong Asuquo, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who has been transferred to head another legal department of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence department Panti-Yaba.

Consequently, Justice Hadizat Shagari, urged the prosecutor to make efforts in getting the original copies he intended to use in prosecuting the matter, and fixed March 8, for continuation of trial of the accused marketer and his company.

The Nigerian government in an amended criminal charge marked FHC/L/321c/2013, jointly signed by Dania Abdulai and Effiong Asuquo and filed before the court, alleged that the Petroleum marketer, Olaniran Ogundipe and his company, Petroleum Broker Limited, and other persons now at large, had between the month of January and April, 2011with intent to defraud, the Federal Government of Nigeria obtained the sum of N1.323, 162, 160.76 billion as subsidy from the Federal Government under false pretence that they had imported and sold 17,837,160 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, into the country via MT Aidin (Ex MT Stena FR8).without any importation of petrol.

The accused oil marketer and his company were also alleged to have on or about January to April, 2011, forged import and vessels documents which they used to obtained the sum of N1.323,162,160.79 billion from the Federal Government of Nigeria, as fuel Subsidy.

Furthermore, the accused and his company were also alleged to have between January and April 2011, with intent to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria, forged Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Marine Certificate number 0006108, dated February 18, 2011, with Sum Insured N2,232,736,022; Premium: N4,688,745.00,; for 15, 000 metrics tonne of petrol, as per Pro Forma invoice number 1025-11, and Form M number: 418007, which they used to obtain the fuel Subsidy payment.

Olaniran Ogundipe and his company Petroleum Brokers Limited  same period were alleged to have forged Certificate of Quality, which they claimed to have been issued by SGS Inspection Services Nigeria Limited, and used it to obtained the payment for the Subsidy.

The offences alleged to have been committed by the accused oil marketer and his company are contrary to and punishable under Sections 8(c),1(1)(a),(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and Sections 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2006, and Sections 467(1) and 467of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

The accused oil marketer who pleaded not guilty is currently on bail.