The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday 26
November, 2012 re-arraigned three individuals: Mamman Nasir Ali, Christian
Taylor and Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and one company, Nasaman Oil Services Limited
before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja
for offences bordering on fraudulently obtaining money from the Federal
Government through Petroleum Support Fund.
Specifically, the accused persons were arraigned on a 13 count charge
for allegedly obtaining N4.5 billion through false pretence contrary to Section
1 (2) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of
2006. They are also alleged to have committed forgery and uttering of false
document contrary to Section 468 of the Criminal Code Cap 17 of Lagos State of
Nigeria. The re-arraignment of Mamman Ali and Christian Taylor, according
to the prosecution counsel, Francis Usani was due to the need to include
Oluwaseun Ogunbambo who is said to have participated hugely in the deal.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge. Toyin Pinheiro,
SAN, counsel to Mamman Nasir Ali and Christian Taylor then asked the court to
allow his client to continue to enjoy their bail terms as they have already
been granted bail by the court. However, attempts by Adebayo Adenipekun, SAN,
counsel to Ogunbambo to move for bail for his client was opposed by EFCC
counsel who said he needed time to response to the bail application
Justice Onigbanjo ruled that Mamman Nasir Ali and Christian Taylor
should continue to enjoy their bail while ordering that Ogunbambo be remanded
in prison custody. Justice Onigbanjo adjourned to November 28 for hearing
of the bail application while fixing February 6, 13, and 21, 2013
for commencement of trial.
Justice Onigbanjo had, in June, granted bail to Ali and
Taylor in the sum of N20 million each, two sureties in like sum, one of
the sureties is to own a landed property worth N100 million and the certificate
to be deposited with court. The judge also ordered that one of the sureties
should be a level 16 officer either with the Lagos State government or the Federal
government and should present evidence of tax payment in the last three years.
The accused persons are to deposit their international passports with EFCC
while the court registrar is to verify the sureties.
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