By Abiola Olawale
The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced Mamman Nasir Ali, son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Ahmadu Ali, to 14 years in prison for his alleged role in a N2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud.
Alongside Ali, Sierra Leonean oil marketer Christian Taylor received a similar sentence for their alleged involvement in an oil subsidy scam that defrauded the Nigerian government.
Justice Mojisola Dada, presiding over the case, gave this ruling on Tuesday.
Justice Dada described the actions of Ali and Taylor as a “serious breach of trust” that undermined the integrity of Nigeria’s oil subsidy program.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of assets and accounts linked to the fraud, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s fight against corruption in the oil sector.
The judge also issued a warrant for the arrest of Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul Afeez, two other suspects still at large.
The New Diplomat reports that this comes after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted the duo alongside their company, Nasaman Oil Services Limited, on an amended 57-count charge.
The charges included alleged conspiracy to obtain money by false pretenses, forgery, and the use of false documents, violating the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
The EFCC alleged that on or about September 9, 2011, Ali, Taylor, and two fugitive accomplices, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul-Afeez, fraudulently obtained N2.2 billion from the Federal Government.
The anti-graft agency also stated in the charges that the duo falsely claimed the funds as subsidies for importing 20,492,982.50 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) through Nasaman Oil Services Limited, purportedly purchased from SEATAC Petroleum Ltd of the British Virgin Islands.
Specific counts detailed fraudulent claims of N749,991,273.36 on November 9, 2011, and N1,480,074,125.61 on April 11, 2011, using falsified documents, including a “Gasoline Analysis” report for the MT Overseas Limar.
