Alleged N2.2b Oil Subsidy Fraud: Mamman Ali Trial Deferred Until March 25

Justice Mojisola Dada, presiding over the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has adjourned further proceedings in the trial of Mamman Nasir Ali and Christian Taylor, accused in an N2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud case. The trial is now scheduled to resume on March 25, 2024, following a recent hearing on Friday, February 2, 2024.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos re-arraigned Mamman Nasir Ali, Christian Taylor, and Nasaman Oil Services Limited on March 24, 2023. The charges, amended to a 49-count indictment, encompass allegations of conspiracy to obtain money through false pretence, forgery, and use of false documents. These charges fall under Section 8 and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, as well as Section 363 (3)(j) and Section 364 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Among the counts, one instance from November 9, 2011, accuses Nasaman Oil Services Ltd, Mamman Nasir Ali, Christian Taylor, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo (currently at large), and Olabisi Abdul-Afeez (still at large). They are alleged to have conspired to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria by falsely claiming N749,991,273.36 as a subsidy for importing 10,031,986 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). The fuel was purportedly purchased from SEATAC Petroleum Ltd of the British Virgin Islands, imported through MT Liquid Fortune Ltd, and represented through MT Liquid Fortune Ltd Ex MT Overseas Lima – all allegedly false.

Another count, dated April 11, 2011, accuses the same parties of obtaining N1,480,074,125.61 from the Federal Government under false pretences. This amount allegedly represented a subsidy accruing to Nasaman Oil Services Ltd for the importation of 20,492,982.50 litres of PMS, supposedly purchased from SEATAC Petroleum Ltd and imported through MT Liquid Fortune Ex Mt. Hellenic Blue and Ex MT. Milleura.

Throughout the proceedings, the defendants maintained their plea of “not guilty.”

During the recent court session, the prosecution counsel, S.K. Atteh, informed the court that one witness was indisposed, and another faced flight issues. As a result, Atteh requested an adjournment, a plea to which the defence counsel, Kolade Obafemi, did not object. Consequently, Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the trial to March 25 and 26, 2024, for a continuation of proceedings.

It is noteworthy that the case was originally under the purview of Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo at a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. However, due to Justice Onigbanjo’s withdrawal from the case on health grounds, the matter was reassigned to Justice Dada.

As the legal process unfolds, the accused individuals and their legal representatives continue to navigate the intricacies of the allegations levelled against them. The next court dates will likely shed further light on the progress and developments in this complex and high-profile case.