Oil Subsidy Trial Resumed Today

Lagos - The trial of the alleged oil subsidy fraud
suspects resumed today at the Lagos High Court
after months of suspension following the annual
vacation holiday by the Lagos Judiciary.
Ope Yemi Ajuyah and her company, Majope
Investment Ltd, are on trial for defrauding the
Federal Government of about N1.1 billion through
scheme.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) is seeking the prosecution of co-suspects,
including oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao and
Olanrewaju Olalusi, a staff of Sterling Bank Plc.
At the resumption of proceedings of the trial before
Justice Lateefat Okunnu, counsel to Ajuyah,
Olarenwaju Ajanaku rejected the claim by the EFCC
that his client conspired with others to divert over
10 000 metric tonnes of premium motor spirits.
An EFCC investigator, Effa Okim, had in May
testified that the defendants had claimed that they
imported 15 000 metric tonnes of PMS and
thereafter collected subsidy payment.
Okim said investigations by the EFCC showed that
the vessel, MT Brave, only discharged 4 264 metric
tonnes at the Lister Jetty in Apapa, while the
remaining product was diverted to an unknown
destination.
He said Majope Investment Ltd. later obtained a
subsidy payment for 15 000 metric tonnes from the
Petroleum Support Fund for the said transaction.
However, under-cross examination by Ajanaku,
Okim admitted that an independent auditor, Ezekiel
Ejidele, who supervised the transaction, admitted
that 15,000 metric tonnes were discharged.
Addressing the witness, he argued that the EFCC
failed to do a thorough investigation of the
transaction and tendered Ejidele's statement to the
commission which was admitted as exhibit by the
court.
He said in the statement, Ejidele, a staff of Akintola
Williams Delloite Auditing Firm, confirmed that 15
000 metric tonnes was discharged at the jetty.
Ajanaku further argued that the discharge
certificates signed by the other surveyors, Q and Q
Survey Ltd. and Petroma Logistics Ltd. also
revealed a discharge of 15 000 metric tonnes.
The matter was adjourned to Friday for continuation
of trial.