Arraigned on 38 counts
before a Lagos State High Court on Tuesday were Ochonogor Alex and the
companies of the defendants, Eterna Plc, Axenergy Limited and Star Inspection
Services Nigeria Limited.
The Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission on Tuesday re-arraigned the son of a former National Chairman
of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Mahmud; and the son of
the late Ibadan multibillionaire, Chief Alao Arisekola, Abdullahi, for
conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and uttering.
The EFCC claimed that the
defendants conspired among themselves and obtained the sum of N3,121,393,098
from the Federal Government under the guise that the money was for the
importation of Premium Motor Spirit.
One of the charges read in
part, “Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao-Arisekola, Eterna Plc,
Axenergy, and Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited on, or about April 28,
2011 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, by false pretence and
with an intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N176,385,103.56 from the Federal
Government of Nigeria.
The sum was in excess of
the amount due to Eterna Plc as subsidy for the importation of 17,343,668
litres of Premium Motor Spirit by purporting to have imported the product
through the mother vessel, MT. Emirates Star, with the bill of lading
bearing April 28, 2011, as against the
actual mother vessel of Gunhild Kirk with the bill of lading date of April 3,
2011.”
The defendants pleaded not
guilty when the charges were read to them.
The prosecutor, Mr Tayo
Olukotun, requested for a trial date in view of the plea of the defendants.
Counsel for the 1st and 2nd
defendants, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), as well as counsel for the 3rd defendant,
Mr. Aderemi Oguntoye, pleaded with the court to allow the defendants to
maintain the bail terms granted earlier by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.
The trial Judge, Justice
Hakeem Oshodi, granted their request.
“The 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants should
continue to enjoy their bails granted on July 26, 2012,” Justice Oshodi said.
He adjourned till July 7,
2017 for trial.
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