The Lagos State High Court sitting has adjourned till today the trial of oil marketers arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) indicted in the report of the House of Representatives sub-committee on fuel subsidy because of the absence of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Muhammed Adoke.
At the commencement of the sitting presided over by Justice Habeeb Abiru, counsel to the anti-graft agency Rotimi Jacob moved for the adjournment of the case due to the absence of Adoke and the first defendant, Walter Wagastoma. "My Lord the Attorney General and Minister of justice who is to lead the prosecution legal team is not here with us today. The first defendant whose presence is of great importance to this case is also not here. It is important they appear in court for the matter to yield any result," Jacob said.
Justice Abiru, having considered the plea of the EFCC counsel, adjourned the matter till today for proper arraignment to take place.
Four other defendants, who were to be arraigned alongside Wagastoma, were however present at the hearing. They were Adaoha-Ugo Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer, Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele and representative of Ontario Oil and Gas.
However, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, who supposed to preside over the second case involving Mahmud Tukur, Alex Ochonogor, Abdullahi Alao and Eternal Oil and Gas failed to sit.
Daily Trust gathered that this may not be unconnected with the absence of Ochonogor who is also a prominent figure among the marketers. Justice Onigbanjo, who was said to be within the court premises, was also reported to have met with counsels to both parties and fixed the arraignment till 12 noon today.
Part of the charges preferred against the accused persons and their companies bordered on conspiracy to obtaining N1.9 billion under false pretence contrary to section 8, punishable under section 107 of Advance Fee Fraud & Other Related offences. The defendants were also accused by the government of uttering and forging documents contrary to sections 468 and 467 of the Criminal Code Cap. C17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos of State of Nigeria 2006, respectively.
The 20 suspects were accused of stealing a total of N13.4 billion. And the total money alleged to have been stolen is N1.6 trillion.
The 20 suspects are among the over 140 individuals and organizations involved in the ongoing investigations into the subsidy payments by the EFCC. More suspects will be arraigned periodically as the investigation progresses.
Daily Trust