Back-and-Forth Game Begins again as EFCC Re-arraigns Two Oil Marketers

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, rearraigned two oil marketers on an amended charge of N976.6 million fuel subsidy fraud.

The two marketers were re-arraigned alongside their company, Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on a 10- count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery, uttering and use of forged documents.

According to EFCC’s Francis Usani, the defendants conspired with one Olugbega Adesanya (still at large) to fraudulently obtain N976.6 million from the Federal Government of Nigeria. Usani alleged that the duo of Habila Theck and Seun Ogunbambo obtained the money as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 13.6 million litres of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS).

Usani also alleged that the PMS was purportedly purchased from one Seatac Petroleum Limited and imported into Nigeria through MT Diplomat Ex MT Milleura. The defendants were also alleged to have forged a Bill of lading and other documents which they used in facilitating the fraud.

Meanwhile, the duo pleaded not guilty to the charges and the judge ordered that they should continue to enjoy the bail granted them after their initial arraignment for the same offences on July 30, 2012. The matter was then adjourned till December 5, 2012 for trial.