Wale Igbintade
The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, yesterday painted a graphic picture of how Nadabo Energy Boss, Abubakar Alli Peters and his company forged documents used to receive the sum of N1.4 billion from the federal government.
Led in evidence by lawyer to the EFCC, Mr. Saidu Ateh yesterday, Bawa informed Justice Sebotan Ogunsanya of how the defendant forged all the documents leading to the subsidy payment of N762 million by inflating the quantity of the petroleum products he imported.
Bawa further told the court that the bank, which finance the importation explained that the LPO of the petroleum product financed by them was N666 million as against N1.4 billion claimed by the defendant.
EFCC further stated that vessel that imported the cargo also disclosed that they only brought in 8.0 million litres as against the claim of the defendant that the vessel shipped in 12 million litres.
The EFCC boss said that investigation revealed how all the correspondences that led to the receipt of N1.4 billion by the defendants were all forged.
The EFCC boss had earlier told the court that a complaint was received from the then minister for Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke on how the defendant received the sum of N1.4 billion for the importation of 8 million litres but inflated it to 12 million litres and received the excess of 762 million naira instead of 666 million naira.
He said enquires from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and Staco Insurance Plc to authenticate the product marine insurance disclosed that the documents used by the defendant to receive the excess N762 million subsidy were forged.
“We equally wrote letter to PPPRA to confirm what the defendant is entitled to but the agency responded that the defendant only entitled to N683 million as against N1.4 billion he received from the federal government for subsidy of 762 million which he never imported. “
Bawa also tendered the two statements of the defendant offered to EFCC during investigation in 2015.
But, counsel to the defendant Osagie Isiramen objected to the admissibility of the statement on the ground that it was not obtained in the presence of defence.
But the trial judge in her short ruling dismissed the objection and admitted the statement in evidence and marked exhibit P26 and P27 respectively.
Justice Ogunsanya later adjourned further trial to November 1 and 2, 2021 for the defence to cross examine Bawa.
