Son of former PDP Chairman implicated in subsidy scam payment as EFCC investigates

A Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has been informed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that Mamman Ali, one of the sons of former PDP chairman Ahmadu Ali, allegedly received subsidy payments for petroleum goods that were not supplied.

Denis Kasari, an EFCC investigating officer, made the claim during his testimony in Ali, Christian Taylor, and Nasaman Oil Services Limited’s ongoing trial on a 49-count charge of conspiring to collect money by false pretences and fake documents.

Additionally, Kasari informed Justice Mojisola Dada, the trial judge, that the first defendant received N749,991,273.36 and N1,480,074,125.61 in subsidy payments for PMS that was not provided.

The anti-graft agency had informed the judge during the defendant’s arraignment that the offences are contrary to Section 8 and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.

The commission had also maintained that the offence of forgery is contrary to Section 363 (3)(j) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011; and use of false documents contrary to Section 364 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

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The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

While being led in evidence by the counsel for the EFCC, Seiduh Atteh, the EFCC witness claimed that in January 2012, the anti-graft agency received petitions from the then Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke; a Civil Society Organizations signed by then human rights activist, Dino Melaye; one Emmanuel John, and another from Femi Falana (SAN), alleging corruption in the subsidy regime.

He said that they alleged massive oil subsidy fraud in the importation of petroleum products into the country.

He told the court that, at the time, he was a member of the special team set up by the commission to investigate the petroleum subsidy and that the petitions were approved and assigned to the special team for investigation.

“The team swung into action by writing several letters of investigation activities to various offices, including the then Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, requesting them to furnish us with the list of licenced companies and oil marketers approved to import petroleum products into the country,” he said.

Kasari told the court that responses allegedly indicated that the first defendant was licenced to import petroleum products into the country.

“In exhibit P18, the first defendant executed six transactions, and three out of them were successfully carried out, but the three others required further investigation,” he said.

He testified further that investigation revealed that documents credited to Saybolt Nigeria Limited and the Inspectorate Marine Nigeria Services for ship-to-ship transfers of PMS from mother vessels to daughter’s vessels were allegedly forged.

Kasari claimed that the first defendant benefited from N749,991,273.36 and N1,480,074,125.61 as subsidy payments for PMS not supplied.

“Investigation revealed that the entire subsidy paid by the CBN entered this same account.

“Also, my lord, when the agreement between the first defendant and Arlage Oil and Gas Limited was signed, the sum of N36 million was paid into another Sterling Bank account belonging to the first defendant where the second defendant is the sole signatory and that same day sum of N25 million was withdrawn by the first defendant.”

Justice Dada has adjourned the case to September 14 for continuation of trial.

ENIGERIA NEWSPAPER