Lagos — Two oil marketers, Mamman Nasir Ali and Christian Taylor, have been sentenced to 14 years in prison each after being found guilty of defrauding the Federal Government of N2.2 billion under the petroleum subsidy scheme.
The judgment, delivered on Tuesday, by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, followed a protracted trial that exposed a network of fraudulent subsidy claims involving fictitious fuel imports.
Ali, Taylor, and their company, Nasaman Oil Services Limited, faced a 57-count amended charge, which included conspiracy to obtain money under false pretence, forgery, and use of falsified documents. Their charges stemmed from false subsidy claims for fuel allegedly imported into the country in 2011.
In one instance, they claimed N749.9 million for 10 million litres of petrol purportedly sourced from SEATAC Petroleum Ltd, British Virgin Islands, and shipped via MT Liquid Fortune. Investigations later revealed the transaction never took place.
Another charge involved a similar scheme where the defendants received N1.48 billion for over 20 million litres of fuel they alleged were brought in through vessels MT Hellenic Blue and MT Milleura — claims later found to be fabricated.
Although they pleaded not guilty, the prosecution, led by Seiduh Atteh, presented a string of witnesses and documentary evidence that convinced the court beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Dada, in her ruling, stated that the fraudulent actions not only deprived the government of significant resources but also weakened public confidence in the subsidy program.
She ordered the forfeiture of assets and bank accounts traced to the fraud. Two accomplices, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul-Afeez, remain at large. The court has issued arrest warrants for both.
The trial initially commenced before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, who recused himself, prompting a reassignment of the case to Justice Dada.
The sentencing brings closure to one of the many high-profile cases linked to abuse of the fuel subsidy regime, which has long been plagued by allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement.
