The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned Opeyemi Ajuah, Majope Investment, Abdullah Alao, Axenergy, and Olarenwaju Olalusi before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, on eight-count amended charge of conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money under false pretense.

The suspects were first arraigned before the same court for allegedly obtaining the sum of N1,110,049,444.35 fraudulently as subsidy payments for 15,206,733 metric tons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the Federal Government.

At Friday’s re-arraignment, prosecuting counsel, Seidu Atteh, brought before an amended eight- count charge against the suspects, alleging that they obtained the sum of N798,984,707.35 from the Federal Government in unearned subsidy payments for 20,386,583 metric tons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

All the three accused persons and their companies pleaded not guilty to the charges.

One of the charges read: “You Opeyemi Ajuyah, Majope investment, Abdullahi Alao, Axenergy and Olarenwaju Olalusi on or about the 18th day of April, 2011 at Lagos within the Ikeja judicial division with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N798,984,707.35 from the Federal government of Nigeria by falsely claiming that the sum represented subsidy that accrued to Majope Investment Limited under the Petroleum Support Fund for the importation of 20,386,583 metric tons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as discharged at Lister terminal in Apapa, Lagos, whereas you only discharged 5,712,851 litres at the said Lister Terminal through MT Brave daughter vessel which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.”

Ateh prayed the court to allow him recall prosecution witnesses 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 while counsel to the defendants: O. Ajanaku (1st & 2nd defendants), Aderemi Oguntoye (3rd & 4th defendants) and D.A Awosika (5th defendant) requested the court to allow their clients continue with the bail terms earlier granted them.

Consequently, Justice Okunnu granted the prayer of the prosecution and ordered the recall of the five witnesses as requested and allowed 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants to continue to enjoy their bail. She subsequently adjourned the matter to October 20; 21; 22; 27; 28, and 29, 2015 for continuation of trial.

•Photo shows EFCC Chairman, Ibahim Lamorde.

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