ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has sentenced Mamman Nasir Ali, son of former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Ali, and a Sierra Leonean, Christian Taylor, to 14 years in prison each for their role in a N2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud.
Justice Mojisola Dada delivered the judgment, convicting the duo alongside their company, Nass Man Oil Services Limited, after finding them guilty on all counts of an amended 57-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to Vanguard, the defendants were initially arraigned in 2012 on a 49-count charge, which included conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery, and use of false documents.
The EFCC noted that the offences contravened the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
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EFCC prosecutor, Seidu Atteh, told the court that the convicted individuals fraudulently obtained N2.2 billion from the Federal Government on or about September 9, 2011, under the petroleum subsidy scheme.
The prosecution further revealed that the defendants used forged documents, including a falsified “Gasoline Analysis” report for MT Overseas Limar, which was allegedly issued by Saybolt Concremat.
In her ruling, Justice Dada stated: “I find the evidence presented by the prosecution compelling.”
She added that the fraudulent acts committed by the convicts: “not only defrauded the government but also undermined the integrity of Nigeria’s oil subsidy programme.”
In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered the forfeiture of assets and bank accounts identified as being connected to the fraud.
Justice Dada also issued arrest warrants for two other suspects, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul Afeez, who remain at large.