EFCC Press Release
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) ,on Wednesday December 10, re-arraigned the trio of Mahmud Tukur,
Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao and 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.
The
accused persons allegedly colluded among themselves and obtained N3,121,393,098
(Three Billion, One Hundred and Twenty One Million, Three Hundred and Ninety
Three Thousand, Ninety Eight Naira Only) from the Federal Government under the
guise that the money was for the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
One of the charges read that: "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 honorable 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.
Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jabobs, SAN,
requested a trial date in view of the plea of the accused persons. Counsel to
the 1st , 2nd and 4th accused persons as well as counsel to
the 3rd and 5th
accused persons requested the
court to allow the accused persons maintain their bail terms and condition
granted earlier by the same court.
Justice
Akapo allowed the accused persons to continue to enjoy the terms of bail earlier
granted them by court and adjourned the matter to March 2 , 3 and 4, 2015 for commencement
of trial.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
10th December, 2014
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