EFCC Arraigns Businessman For N9.5m Oil Fraud!

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  on Thursday, December 17, 2015 arraigned one  Oghenemi Michael Morowei, Managing Director, Standard Allied Universal Concept,  before Justice Valentine Ashi  of the High Court of the FCT, sitting in Apo, Abuja on a nine-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.

The suspect is being prosecuted for allegedly conspiring with other members of an oil syndicate to sell a consignment of crude oil from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to Bascom Energy Limited.

One of the counts reads: ''That you, Oghenemi Michael Morowei( a.k.a. Fubara Dan Jumbo, Boma Harry, Peterson Harry and Elder Dan Jumbo) trading under the name and style of Standard Allied Universal Concepts, George Olotu( at large), Bowoto Sunny Ola( at large) and Engr. Abiye Jumbo( at large) between 7th March, 2014 and 19th March, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did with intent to defraud obtain the sum of N8,000,000( Eight Million Naira only) from Bascom Energy Limited under the false pretence that same was payment for crude oil product which pretence you knew to be false.''

Another count reads: ''That you , Oghenemi Michael Morowei(a.k.a. Fubara Dan Jumbo, Boma Harry, Peterson Harry and Elder Dan Jumbo) trading under the name and style of Standard Allied Universal Concepts, George Olotu( at large), Bowoto Sunny Ola( at large) and Engr. Abiye Jumbo( at large) on the 11th of February, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did with intent to defraud obtain the sum of N1,500,000( One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Bascom Energy Limited under the false pretence that same was payment for crude oil product which pretence you knew to be false.''

The accused person pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.

Following his plea, the defence counsel, Alex Akunebu, moved the application for bail on behalf of his client and assured the court that he (the accused person) would not jump bail.

However, prosecution counsel, Cosmos Ugwo, urged the court to refuse the application.

Justice Ashi however granted the accused person bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties, who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, must produce certified evidence of ownership of landed property and must always produce the accused person in court in subsequent proceedings, failing which they would be liable to pay the sum of N250m each.

 The case has been adjourned to February 25, 2016 for commencement of trial.