The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Tuesday convicted and sentenced two oil marketers, Mamman Nasir Ali and Christian Taylor, to 14 years imprisonment each for conspiracy and fraudulently obtaining N2.2 billion under the Petroleum Support Fund scheme.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Mojisola Dada stated that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, finding the defendants guilty on multiple counts, including conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, forgery, and the use of false documents.
The court noted that their actions not only defrauded the Federal Government but also undermined public confidence in the fuel subsidy programme.
Ali and Taylor were arraigned alongside their company, Nasaman Oil Services Limited, on an amended 57-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following new findings during the investigation.
They had earlier been arraigned on a 49-count charge before the matter was reassigned to Justice Dada, following the withdrawal of Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.
The EFCC said that the convicts, on or about November 9, 2011, fraudulently obtained N749,991,273.36 by falsely claiming the amount represented subsidy payment for the importation of 10,031,986 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, allegedly purchased from SEATAC Petroleum Ltd of the British Virgin Islands and delivered through MT Liquid Fortune Ex MT Overseas Lima, a representation they knew to be false.
The EFCC also told the court that on or about April 11, 2011, the defendants fraudulently obtained N1,480,074,125.61 by making similar false claims concerning the importation of 20,492,982.50 litres of PMS, purportedly brought into Nigeria via MT Liquid Fortune Ex MT Hellenic Blue and Ex MT Milleura.
They pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges preferred against them.
The prosecution, led by Mr. Seiduh Atteh, presented multiple witnesses and submitted numerous documentary exhibits, all of which were admitted as evidence by the court.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Mojisola Dada imposed 14 years’ imprisonment on each of the convicts, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of identified assets and bank accounts connected to the fraudulent scheme.
Additionally, the court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul-Afeez, who remain at large.
