Subsidy theft: EFCC declares three oil marketers wanted

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde
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Three oil marketers allegedly involved in the theft of billions naira fuel subsidy money were on Friday declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

They are Abdul Afeez Olarenwaju Olabisi (Fago Petroleum and Gas Ltd.); Abubakar Ali Jeldi (Managing Director of Nadabo Energy Ltd.); and Ikechukwu Onuabuchi Nworgu of Star Inspection Services Nigeria Ltd.

A statement by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, obtained by SATURDAY PUNCH in Abuja, said the men were wanted by the commission for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy, forgery, obtaining money by false pretences and money laundering running into several billions of naira.

He said, “Olabisi, 31, is from Kwara State and speaks Yoruba, Hausa and English languages fluently. His last known address is Fago Petroleum and Gas Ltd.

“Jeldi, 34, is of the Igala stock from Kogi State, North Central Nigeria. He speaks his native Igala, Hausa and English languages fluently.  His last known addresses are 4B, Louis Solomon Close, Victoria Island, Lagos and 15 Ogbunike Street, Lekki, Lagos.

“Nworgu, 46, is from Abia State. He speaks Igbo and English fluently. His last known address is Star Inspection Services Nigeria Ltd., 4A, Lander Close, off Liverpool Road, Apapa, Lagos.”

The EFCC said the accused allegedly obtained billions of naira as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund under false pretence, and disappeared in the wake of the commission’s investigation of the subsidy regime.

The anti-graft agency urges anyone having useful information as to the whereabouts of the suspects to contact its zonal offices in Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja or the nearest police station.

The EFCC had stated that about 140 suspects, who were involved in the fuel subsidy scandal, were to face prosecution.

The figure includes the first batch of 20 suspects implicated in the scandal, who have been scheduled to appear at a Federal High Court in Lagos and six oil firms as well as 11 individuals.

The six oil firms are: Nasaman Oil Services, Eterna Oil and Gas Plc, Ontario Oil & Gas Plc, Nadabo Energy Ltd., Pacific Silver Line Ltd., Axenergy Ltd., and Fago Petroleum and Gas Ltd.

The 11 individuals involved are: Mamman Nasir Ali, Christian Taylor, Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer, Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele, Abubakar Ali Peters, Jude Agube Abalaka,  Abdulahi Alao and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo.

While Ejidele is director of an accounting firm, Akintola Williams Deliote, Ebenezer is an employee of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulating Agency.