The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, have re-arraigned the duo of Mamman Nasir Ali and Christian Taylor for an alleged N2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud.
This was contained in a statement released on the official X handle of the EFCC on Thursday.
The case, which was brought before Justice Mojisola Dada, of the Special Offences Court sitting in Lagos was the second sitting after the initial arraignment of the defendants on a 49-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, forgery and the use of false documents.
They were re-arraigned alongside Nasaman Oil Services Limited on an amended 57-count charge, following new findings in the case.
The statement revealed that during the trial for the adoption of the final written address, the prosecution counsel, Seiduh Atteh, called the court’s attention to the amended charges.
He requested that the defendants take a fresh plea, which the defense counsel, Obafemi Kolade, SAN consented to, the court granted the request afterwards.
However, the defendants, thereafter, pleaded “not guilty” to the amended charges filed against them.
According to the statement, the amended charge showed that the defendants, including Oluwaseun Ogunbambi and Olabisi Abdul Afeez, allegedly “fraudulently obtained money from the Federal Government since 2011.
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Moreso, the defendants were said to have allegedly forged a document titled: “ GASOLINE ANALYSIS” while in transit on MT Overseas Lunar.
“In the amended charge, the defendants, as well as Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul Afeez, who are both at large, allegedly “fraudulently obtained money from the Federal Government on or about September 9, 2011.
“The defendants also allegedly forged a document titled: “ GASOLINE ANALYSIS” on board MT Overseas Limar, purportedly issued by Saybolt Concremat on the said date,” The statement revealed.
Following the re-arraignment, Kolade requested time for the defence to amend its written address in response to the new charges while Justice Dada directed the prosecution to file a response before the next hearing.
Meanwhile, the case was adjourned till April 15, 2025 for the adoption of final written addresses.
