Two more oil marketers, Chinyerem Nweze and Olaniran Ogundipe, were yesterday arraigned by the Federal Government before a federal high court in Lagos presided over by Justice Musa Kurya, for alleged N1.3 billion subsidy fraud.
They were charged by the police alongside their companies, Geacan Energy Limited and Petroleum Brokers Limited, on a sixcount charge comprising the alleged offences of conspiracy and fraud.
The duo pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecution, represented by Mr. Dania Abdullahi, prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison while also asking for accelerated hearing of the matter.
Lawyer to the accused persons, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), however, objected to the application for remand on the grounds that the bail application of the accused was pending.
He further submitted that since the accused were granted police administrative bail on September 12, 2013 they had always appeared at the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), whenever they were invited.
Idigbe also told the court that the accused were present in court as early as 7.00am for their arraignment yesterday, saying that that shows they are not the kind of persons that would jump bail.
In his response, the prosecutor argued that remand of an accused was a natural consequence flowing from arraignment, even though bail was at the discretion of the court.
In his ruling, Justice Kurya admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1.5 billion each, with one surety each in the like sum.
The judge further stated that the sureties must occupy the position of a permanent secretary in the Lagos State civil service and must exhibit evidence of such position before the court.
The judge further ordered that the accused persons should be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons within 24 hours, if they fail to meet the bail conditions.
He adjourned the case to November 6, November 7, and November 8, 2013 for trial.
The accused were alleged to have committed the offences for which they were charged between January and April 2011.
They were said to have fraudulently obtained N1.32 billion from the Federal Government under the pretext of importing about 18, 000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into the country.
National Mirror
Fraud must be taken away from this country by all means. It's not something that should be associated with Nigeria at all. It is Bad!