Court adjourns trial of alleged N45.3m oil fraud till March 24

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, adjourned till March 24, 2022 for continuation of trial in the case involving one Mohammed Babagana Alkali.

Alkali was first arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on January 8, 2020 on a 26-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N45,340,500.00.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Mohammad Babagana Alikali, between June and August, 2019 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N45, 340,500.00 (Forty-five Million, Three Hundred and Forty Thousand, Five Hundred) by false pretence from Kain Energy Limited by falsely representing to her that you will purchase Automotive Gas Oil and supply it to Kuramo Industries Nigeria Limited, which representation you knew to be false.”

Another count reads: “That you, Mohammad Babagana Alikali, sometime in 2019, in Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly forged a document titled ‘Purchase Order’ with LPO No. 00/06/001 dated the 27th June, 2019, which you purported to have been issued by the Kuramo Industries Nigeria limited.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the counts.

Though the day’s proceedings were meant for the cross-examination of the prosecution’s first witness, the defence counsel,  Umar Shamaki,  told the court that the defence was not ready.

“My lord, we’re not ready, as I have just been briefed only yesterday at about 10p.m.,” Shamaki said.

Justice Dada, however, noted that the defendant ought to have, since February 2021, briefed a new lawyer to represent him in the matter.

Consequently, the Judge discharged the witness from the dock and adjourned till March 24, 2022 for continuation of trial.