Friday, the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned Mamman Nasir Ali, son of Ahmadu Ali, former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Christian Taylor for an alleged N2.2 billion oil subsidy scam.
They were arraigned alongside Nasaman Oil Services Limited on an amended 49-count charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, contrary to Sections 8 and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006; obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006; forgery, contrary to Section 363 (3)(j) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011; and use of false documents
They entered not guilty pleas to all allegations brought against them.
First, they stood trial before Ikeja-based Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court.
Nevertheless, Justice Onigbanjo withdrew from the case due to health concerns, resulting in the case being reassigned to Justice Dada.
Following their pleadings, the prosecutor’s solicitor, S.K. Atteh, asked the court for a trial date so the prosecution could summon its witnesses and submit the necessary evidence to support its case.
But, the defence attorney, Kolade Obafemi, petitioned the court to enable the defendants to continue to enjoy the bail that Justice Onigbanjo had already granted.
“We beg your lordship’s mercy that the defendants’ present bail be permitted to remain,” he said.
In response, Atteh stated that the prosecution’s top priority was the appearance of the defendants in court.
“It is in our best interest for the defendants to appear in court; thus, we leave the matter to the discretion of this Honorable Court,” he stated.
The defence attorney was unable to quickly provide the defendants’ bail documents to the court, but he did provide the court with Justice Onigbanjo’s prior rulings regarding the bail applications.
“I need to see the bail documents,” stated Judge Dada.
In this case, Judge Dada ordered that the defendants be detained to EFCC custody until the court receives the defendants’ bail documents and a proper bail application is filed.
The trial has been postponed to May 29 through May 31, 2023.