An inspector of petroleum products with Q and Q Control Marine Services Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Adedapo, has disowned some documents tendered by Abdulahi Alao, son of Ibadan-based business man, Arisekola Alao, and two others to claim payments of subsidy on imported Premium Motor Spirit or petrol.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Alao, Opeyemi Ajuyah and Olanrewaju Olalusi at a Lagos High Court for forging documents to perpetrate N1.1bn fuel subsidy fraud.
Also facing the trial along with them are their firms - Majope Investment Ltd. and Axenergy Ltd.
Adedapo, who was testifying for the prosecution on Wednesday, told Justice Lateefat Okunnu that Alao and his co-defendants had imported about 4,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products but had obtained subsidy payment for 15,000 metric tonnes.
According to him, Q and Q was contracted by Oando Oil and Gas Plc. to inspect the quantity of products brought in by a vessel, MT BRIEF on behalf of Majope Investment Ltd.
He said he had issued a Shore Tank Certificate to the marketers indicating that only 4,000 metric tonnes was discharged.
Adedapo, who was led by EFCC counsel, Mr. Francis Usani, said the discharge was done at Lister Jetty in Apapa between January 22 and 23,2011, adding that the vessel brought 15,000 metric tonnes.
He said about 4,000 metric tonnes was discharged into the facility while the remaining quantity was taken away by the vessel.
The witness said he wrote a protest letter to the captain of the ship as a result of the discrepancy witnessed in the transaction.
He said, "The Shore Tank Certificate showing that 15,000 metric tonnes was not signed by me.
"The signature looks like mine but this document did not emanate from Q and Q."
Under cross-examination by the defendants counsel, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN) and Mr. Oludare Falana, the witness maintained that he did not sign any document indicating that 15,000 metric tonnes was discharged.
Following the denial, Falana ordered him to sign on a blank paper for comparison of the signatures.
However, the paper Adedapo was made to sign on a blank paper by Falana was admitted by the court as Exhibit P6.
The matter was adjourned till July 24 for continuation of trial.
The Punch