Mahmud Tukur, the son of the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bamaga Tukur has been reportedly re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) over a N3.1 billion fuel subsidy scam.
Premium Times reports that Mahmud was docked on Wednesday alongside Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao and their companies.
It was gathered that the accused persons were charged alongside the companies, Eterna Plc, Axenergy, and Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited on 38 amended count charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and forgery.
According to the EFCC, the accused persons colluded among themselves and obtained N3.1 billion from the federal government under the guise that the money was for the importation of petrol.
It would be recalled that the trio had earlier been charged in 2012 but the charges were amended by the EFCC.
“You Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao, Eterna Plc, Axenergy, and Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited between October and November, 2011 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, conspired among yourselves to commit an offence to wit, obtaining the sum of N1,222,154,152 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Twenty Two Million, One Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty Two Naira Only) by false pretense ,from the Federal Government of Nigeria purporting the said sum to be subsidy fund by falsely claiming to have imported 13, 701, 569 litres of premium Motor Spirit into Nigeria through the mother vessel MT Valle Di Castiglia and the Daughter vessel MT Deepwater and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related offences Act 2006,” the new charges read.
Meanwhile, when the charges were read to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty.
Rotimi Jabobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who is the prosecuting counsel requested a trial date in view of the plea of the accused persons, but counsel to the accused persons requested the court to allow the accused persons maintain their bail terms and condition which was granted earlier by the same court.
The presiding judge, Lateef-Lawal Akapo, allowed the accused persons to continue to enjoy the terms of bail earlier granted them by the court.
The judge then adjourned the case to March 2, 3 and 4, 2015 for commencement of trial.
It would be recalled that on December 29, 2013, EFCC re-arraigned Mahmud Tukur, over N1.8billion fuel subsidy fraud alongside Alex, Alao, son of prominent businessman, Alhaji Abdullazeez Arikesola-Alao and Eterna Oil and Gas Plc before a new judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja.
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