4 oil firms, 2 CEOs arraigned over N2.9bn fuel subsidy scam

The last may not have been heard about the fuel subsidy scam by some oil companies as the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, have charged four companies and two Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers to court for allegedly obtaining N2.9 billion from the Federal Government under false pretence of importing petroleum products into the country.

The companies which were also alleged to have made the claims through forged documents, included Geacan Energy Limited and its Managing Director, Petroleum Brokers Limited and its managing director, Lister Oil Limited and Oando Marketing.

The unit in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ngozi Nsitume, explained that a petition was addressed to it by the Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy payment. It added that carrying out verification of shore tank certificates and sales proceeds for all the fuel imported into Nigeria, discovered some infractions in the importation made by one of the companies.

The statement said the infraction was discovered “in the importation made by Geacan Energy Limited in April and October 2011, via vessels MT AIDIN and MT BRAVE, against which N2.9 billion was paid to Geacan Energy as subsidy. The case was investigated by detectives from the unit and a prima facie case has been established against the suspects.”

The suspects were charged and arraigned before Justice Mohammed Kurya of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, on a seven count charge.

Count one read “that you Geacan Energy Limited, Chinyerem Anekwem Anike Nweze (F), Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Geacan Energy Limited; Petroleum Brokers Limited, Ogundipe Olanira (m), Managing Director/CEO of Petroleum Brokers Limited, Lister Oil and Oando Plc, between January and April 2011 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High court, conspired among yourselves and with others at large, to commit a felony to wit, obtaining the sum of N1,323,162,160.76 as subsidy from the Federal Government under false pretence that Geacan Energy Limited imported and sold 17,837,160.00 litres of Petroleum Motor spirit, PMS, into Nigeria via vessel MT AIDIN (EX MT STENA FR8) and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 8(a)of the Advance Fee Fraud Related offences Act cap A6, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; read with section 3(1) of the same Act.”

Count two alleged that the Managing Director of GEACAN Energy Limited, Chiyerem Nweze made forged import and vessels documents to obtain the payment of fuel subsidy valued at N1. 3 billion, while count three alleged that GEACAN and its managing director obtained N1.3 billion as fuel subsidy from the Federal Government between January and April 2011 on a false pretence that they had imported the product into Nigeria and sold 17,837,160.00 via an oil vessel.

In count four, Lister Oil Limited and Oando Plc were alleged to have aided Geacan Energy Limited, its Managing Director and Petroleum Brokers Limited and its managing director to obtain the sum of N1.3 billion fuel subsidy from the Federal Government “on the false pretence that the said Geacan Energy Limited was imported and sold 17,837,160.00 litres of PMS via vessel MT AIDIN(EX MT STENA FR8)”

In counts five, GEACAN Energy limited ,its Managing Director and Petroleum Brokers Limited and its managing director were alleged to have made forged Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Marine Insurance Certificate number 0006108 dated 18/02/2011, “with the following other particulars: “ SUM INSURED: N2,232,736,022, PREMIUM: N4,688,745.00, DESCRIPTION OF GOODS: 15,000 MT Premium Motor Spirit as per Pro forma invoice number P 1025-11 of 17-02-2011 and form M number: 418007” which documents you used to process and obtained the payment of fuel subsidy of N1,323, 162, 160.76 from the federal government of Nigeria.

Furthermore, both companies and managing directors were in count six said to have also allegedly forged Certificate of Quality purported to have been issued or made by SGS Inspection services Nigeria limited , which they used to process and obtained the payment of 1.3 billion fuel subsidy.

In count seven, both companies and their managing directors were said to have allegedly obtained the sum of N1. 65 million as fuel subsidy from the federal government “ by falsely pretending that they have imported into Nigeria and sold 20,097,125.00 litres of PMS via vessel MT BRAVE, EX MT STARLING(EX MT RN PRIVINDINO) .