N1.5b Subsidy Scam: EFCC Faults Tukur, 4 Others’ Bid to Quash Charges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has faulted a bid by Mahmud Tukur and four others to quash charges against them in a N1.5 billion subsidy scam case. The defendants, who are standing trial before Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, had filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against them. However, the EFCC, in its response, argued that the defendants’ application was misconceived and lacked merit. The commission’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, stated that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant the defendants’ conviction. Jacobs noted that the defendants had failed to provide any credible evidence to rebut the allegations against them. The EFCC had alleged that the defendants had conspired to commit the offence of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. The defendants were said to have fraudulently obtained N1.5 billion from the Federal Government as subsidy for the importation of petroleum products. The EFCC also alleged that the defendants had forged documents, including a bill of lading and a certificate of origin, to facilitate the fraud. The commission’s investigation had revealed that the defendants had used the forged documents to deceive the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) into paying them the subsidy. The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the EFCC had presented several witnesses, including officials of the PPPRA and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), to testify against them. The witnesses had given detailed accounts of how the defendants had perpetrated the fraud, including how they had used the forged documents to obtain the subsidy. The EFCC had also tendered several documents, including the forged bill of lading and certificate of origin, as evidence against the defendants. The defendants’ application to quash the charges is expected to be heard by the court soon. If the application is dismissed, the defendants will be required to enter their defence, which could lead to their conviction and sentencing. The EFCC has vowed to continue its pursuit of justice in the case, which is one of several high-profile subsidy scam cases being prosecuted by the commission. The case has generated significant public interest, with many Nigerians calling for the prosecution of those involved in the subsidy scam. The EFCC’s efforts to prosecute the defendants have been commended by many, who see it as a step towards combating corruption and ensuring accountability in the country’s oil and gas sector.

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