17th October, 2012
Petroleum products importers who were alleged to have fraudulently obtained the sum of N1.051 billion (about $656 million) from the Petroleum Support Fund as payment for a purported importation of 10,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, were on Wednesday arraigned and granted bail by an Abuja High Court after they entered a “not guilty” plea.
They were granted bail in the sum of N10 million each and two sureties for each in like sum.
The court presided by Justice adebukola Banjoko, however ordered the sureties must be residents of the federal capital territory and must be property owners. They are also to produce evident of a three years tax clearance showing that taxes where paid as at when due. The evident of such regular tax payments are also to be verified by the federal inland revenue service, the body statutorily responsible for tax collection.
Furthermore, the sureties are also to depose to an affidavit of means and provide bank guarantees for the bail sums.
The accused, comprising of two persons and two companies, were arraigned on a 17 counts charge for the alleged crime.
Their arraignment which was to have held last week was stalled following the request by one of the accused persons to be allowed time to access medical attention as well as procure hearing aid to enable him follow the proceedings of the trial in view of his impaired hearing medical condition.
The accused person, Alhaji Saminu Rabiu, appeared in court Wednesday clutching a brand new set of hearing device which he fixed unto his ears soon as the proceeding commenced. He entered his plea on all the counts of the charge alongside the other accused person.
The other accused person, Mr. Jubril Rowaye, alongside their companies, Alminnur Resources Limited and Brila Energy Limited, were indicted in the fuel subsidy scam. They equally pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Jibril Rowaye’s lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, lamented the order for a bank guarantee for the bail sums, which he said will be a clog in securing his client’s bail.
He hinted that he will likely bring in an application for variation of bail conditions as he believes that securing persons to pose bail for his client under such conditions is an uphill task.
Further hearing on the matter was adjourned to 29th November.
By Nnamdi Felix / Abuja