FUEL SUBSIDY SCAM: Court grants Tukur, Ali, others N20m bail

 •More suspects to be arraigned next Wednesday •PDP disowns Tukur, Ali, others

Written by Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare, Jacob Segun Olatunji and Leon Usigbe Friday, 27 July 2012

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SON of Dr Bamanga Tukur, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mahmud and that of the former chairman of the party, Dr Ahmadu Ali, Maman Nasir, as well as  Abdulai Alao, were, on Thursday, arraigned before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja and were released on bail on various counts of offences in the oil subsidy scam.
Those arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo in two separate charges were Mahmud, Ochonogor Alex, Alao and Eterna Oil and Gas Ltd for the first case, while Nasaman Oil Services, Maman Nasir and Christian Taylor were for the second case.
The defendants for both cases were, however, granted bail as moved by their counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, Joe-Kyari Gadzama and Mr Wale Akoni respectively.
The judge granted them bail in the sum of 20 million each with two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties, according to the judge, must be a blood relative owning a property in Lagos worth not less than N100 million with verifiable title documents.
The other surety must be a Level 16 officer in a state or federal civil service and must provide three years tax clearance, which must be verified by the Chief Registrar of the high court.
The defendants must also deposit their international passports with the Economic and Finanical Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge adjourned the case involving Mahmud, Alex, Alao and Eterna Oil and Gas till November 13, while that of Nasaman Oil Services, Maman Nasir and Taylor was adjourned till October 30.
In another case before Justice Habeeb Abiru, Alao and his company, Ax Energy Oil Limited, were first arraigned over charges of forging documents of an international shipping company to perpetrate fraud. 
Alao was also accused of obtaining N1,186,000,000 for importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which he never did.
He pleaded not guilty to all the seven-count charge, while his lawyer moved the application for bail, but  counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, informed the court that they intended to file a counter-affidavit and written address.
“We were served the process in court this morning and we have not responded. I believe it is not ripe for hearing, as we intend to file counter-affidavit and address,” he said.
Justice Abiru consequently adjourned bail hearing till August 1, with an order that Alao be remanded in EFCC custody till then.
In another matter before Justice Abiru, involving four people and a company: Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Ebenezer, Ezekiel Ejidele and Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, the arraignment was stalled like it did on previous days.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, was not available to lead the prosecution team, as he was said to be away on official matters.   
Again, the EFCC claimed innocence of the whereabouts of the first defendant, Wagbatsoma but his counsel, Babajide Koku, informed the court that his client had travelled abroad, promising that he would be available next Wednesday to answer charges.
Though counsel for other defendants moved for a separation of trial, the EFCC opposed this on the grounds that it was better for the process to be done once than in piecemeal, to avoid multiplicity of charges.
Justice Abiru also ruled that the application was premature, with the present circumstance of the matter and adjourned till Wednesday.
The defendants are facing charges of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents preferred against them by the EFCC.
Meanwhile, the PDP, on Thursday, disowned Mahmud and Maman Nasir, sons of its national chairman and former national chiarman, respectively and other members of the party facing trial over their indictment in the fuel subsidy fraud, saying they are on their own.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on the outcome of its weekly National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, the deputy national chairman of the party, Dr Sam-Sam Jaja, said the party had nothing to do with those involved in the alleged fuel scam.
According to him, “it is not a PDP affair. The sons of our national chairman and former national chairman are of age, they can stand on their own. The national chairman won’t go to jail for his son, if found guilty. Mind you, they remain innocent until they are found guilty by the court of law. It is when they are convicted that the party can come out with a position,” he said.

SOURCE: Nigerian Tribune, 27 July 2012. http://tribune.com.ng/index.php