Oil Subsidy Scam: Court adjourns trial of Olaniran Ogundipe

A Lagos Federal High Court, has adjourned till March 8, the continuation of the trial of a petroleum marketer, Olaniran Ogundipe, and his company, Petroleum Broker Nigeria Limited, who are standing trial before the court on alleged N1, 323, 162, 160, 76 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

Olaniran Ogundipe and his company were arraigned before the court 19th of March, 2014.

The court presided over by Justice Hadizat Rabiu Shagari, adjourned the matter following the inability of the prosecutor, Abdullahi Dania to furnish the court with the original copies of documents he intended to use in prosecuting the alleged criminal act of the accused when the matter came up for hearing.

At the resumed trial of the matter, the prosecutor had informed the court that the original documents that he intends to tender in the matter were with his co-prosecutor, Mr. Effiong Asuquo, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who has been transferred to head another legal department of the police at State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti Tabs.

Consequently, Justice Shagari, urged the prosecutor to make efforts in getting the original copies he intended to use in prosecuting the matter, and fixed March 8, for continuation of trial of the accused marketer and his company.

The Nigerian government in an amended criminal charge marked FHC/L/321c/2013, jointly signed by Dania Abdulai and Effiong Asuquo and filed before the court, alleged that the Petroleum marketer, Olaniran Ogundipe and his company, Petroleum Broker Limited, and other persons now at large, had between the month of January and April, 2011 with intent to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria obtained the sum of N1, 323, 162, 160, 76 billion as subsidy from the Federal Government under false pretence that they had imported and sold 17,837,160 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, into the country via MT Aidin (Ex MT Stena FR8).without any importation of petrol.

The accused oil marketer and his company were also alleged to have on or about January to April, 2011, forged import and vessels documents which they used to obtained the sum of N1.323,162,160.79 billion from the Federal Government of Nigeria, as fuel Subsidy.

Furthermore, the accused and his company were also alleged to have between January and April 2011, with intent to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria, forged Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Marine Certificate number 0006108, dated February 18, 2011, with sum insured N2,232,736,022; Premium: N4,688,745.00,; for 15,000 metrics tonne of petrol, as per Pro Forma invoice number 1025-11, and Form M number: 418007, which they used to obtained the fuel subsidy payment.

Olaniran Ogundipe and his company Petroleum Brokers Limited at the same period were alleged to have forged Certificate of Quality, which they claimed to have been issued by SGS Inspection Services Nigeria Limited, and used it to obtained the payment for the subsidy.

The offences alleged to have been committed by the accused oil marketer and his company are contrary to and punishable under Sections 8(c),1(1)(a),(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and Sections 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2006, and Sections 467(1) and 467of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

The accused oil marketer who pleaded not guilty is currently on bail.