N1.5bn Subsidy Scam: EFCC Re-Arraigns Anosike, Four Others

SAN FRANCISCO, February 21, (THEWILL) - The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Thursday, re-arraigned Ifeanyi Anosike, Emeka Chukwu, Ngozi Ekeoma; Anosyke Group of Companies and Dell Energy Limited before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on an eight count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and forgery to the tune of N1, 537,278,880.82 (One Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty Seven Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Naira, Eighty-Two Kobo), being payments fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported supply of 15, 000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit.

The re-arraignment of the five defendants followed the elevation of Justice Habeeb Abiru, the first trial judge to the Court of Appeal.

The case was re-assigned to Justice Onigbanjo before whom the defendants took fresh pleas. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges. Defence counsel, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, told the court that all the defendants had earlier been admitted to bail by the first trial judge and prayed the court to allow them continue enjoying the bail on the same conditions. EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, did not object to the prayers of Nwobike but sued for an early trial date.

Justice Onigbanjo granted the prayers of Nwobike and admitted the defendants to bail on the previous terms.

He adjourned the case till July 3 and 4, 2013 for commencement of trial.