Oil Subsidy Trial: Court Summons EFCC Witness

A Lagos High Court Judge, Justice Lateefat Okunnu today issued a witness summon against a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Engineer Kehinde Akinmoloya in the ongoing trial of an oil marketer, Opeyemi Ajuyah over allegations of fuel subsidy fraud.
Ajuyah and her company, Majope Investment are standing trial alongside another oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao and his company Axe Energy Nigeria Limited and Olanrewaju Olalusi, a staff of Sterling Bank Plc over an alleged N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo told the court that Engr. Akimolayan, who is a principal witness in the trial, has refused to honour invitations to give evidence in the matter.

Oyedepo claimed that the witness had alleged that some persons were after his life and only recently attempted to gain entrance into his residential building.
He said that despite several assurances, the witness has remained adamant on not showing up before the court to given evidence in the case.
Oyedepo prayed the court to issue a witness summon against the witness before the next adjourned date of the trial.
Justice Okunnu subsequently granted the request and directed the court register to issue a summon against the witness.
Earlier in the trial, an EFCC witness, Mr Effa Okim was re-examined on his initial testimony before the court.
Okim, had on May 27 testified that the defendants had claimed that they imported 15,000 metric tonnes of PMS and thereafter collected subsidy payment.
Okim, an EFCC investigative officer said it was later discovered that the ship, MT Brave, only discharged 4,264 metric tonnes at the Lister Jetty in Apapa.
According to him, the remaining product was diverted to an unknown destination which eventually implicated the company in the subsidy fraud.
However, cross-examining Okim, Ajuyah’s counsel, Mr Olarenwaju Ajanaku, argued that the EFCC failed to do a thorough investigation of the transaction.
Mr Aderemi Oguntoye, counsel to the 3rd and 4th defendant in the matter, today however requested and was granted permission to cross examine the witness based on some new document which he tendered before the court.
During the cross examination, Okim insisted that the said document were authentic and formed part of witness statement taken during the course of his investigation.
The matter was adjourned till tomorrow for further trial.

source from PM new.