Son of the suspended former National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Mahmud Tukur was re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday re-arraigned alongside two others and their companies over a N3.1 billion fuel subsidy scam.
Mr. Tukur was re-arraigned alongside Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao and their companies. They were charged alongside their companies Eterna Plc, Axenergy, and Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited — on 38-amended count charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and forgery.
According to the EFCC, the accused persons colluded among themselves and obtained N3.1 billion from the federal government under the guise that the money was for the importation of petrol.
Tukur and the two others were first charged in 2012 but the charges were amended by the EFCC.
One of the new charges reads: “You Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao, Eterna Plc, Axenergy, and Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited between October and November, 2011 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, conspired among yourselves to commit an offence to wit, obtaining the sum of N1,222,154,152 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Twenty Two Million, One Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty Two Naira Only) by false pretense ,from the Federal Government of Nigeria purporting the said sum to be subsidy fund by falsely claiming to have imported 13, 701, 569 litres of premium Motor Spirit into Nigeria through the mother vessel MT Valle Di Castiglia and the Daughter vessel MT Deepwater and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related offences Act 2006.”
The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them, prompting the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs requested for a trial date.
The defence counsel however requested the court to allow the accused persons maintain their bail terms and condition granted earlier by the same court.
The judge, Lateef-Lawal Akapo, allowed the accused persons to continue to enjoy the terms of bail earlier granted them by the court and adjourned the matter to March 2, 3 and 4, 2015 for commencement of trial.
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