A Federal High Court Lagos, on Monday fixed May 17 for continuation of trial of an oil marketer, Olaniran Ogundipe, and his company, Petroleum Broker Nigeria Ltd, over N1.3 billion oil subsidy fraud.
The case, which was earlier slated for continuation of trial, could not proceed on Monday, following the absence of a prosecution witness in court.
The prosecutor, Mr Dania Abdullahi as well as defence counsel were, however, present in court.
Trial would now resume on the next adjourned date.
Ogundipe and his company were arraigned in court on March 19, 2014.
In an amended charge marked FHC/L/321c/2013, the prosecution alleged that the accused, his company, and other persons now at large, committed the offence between January and April, 2011.
They were said to have obtained the sum of N1.3 billion as subsidy from the Federal Government under false pretence that they had imported and sold 17,837,160 litres of petrol in the country via MT Aidin (Ex MT Stena FR8).
They were also alleged to have on or about January to April, 2011 forged import and vessels documents which they used to obtain the said sum from the Federal Government of Nigeria as fuel Subsidy.
Furthermore, the accused were also alleged to have between January and April 2011, with intent to defraud the Federal Government, forged Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc.
He was also said to have forged Marine Certificate number 0006108, dated Feb. 18, 2011, for 15, 000 metrics tonne of petrol.
The accused was alleged to have forged Certificate of Quality, which they claimed was issued by SGS Inspection Services Nigeria Ltd, and used it to obtain the payment for the Subsidy.
The offences are said to have contravened the Provisions of Sections 8(c),1(1)(a),(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
It also contravened the Provisions of Sections 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation, 2006, as well as Sections 467(1) and 467 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation 2004.
The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently on bail. (NAN)
