By Felix Kuyinu
The Special Offences Court in Ikeja is prosecuting a businessman identified as Balami Abdulahi on account of an alleged N15,800,000 oil fraud deal.
Following the arraignment of the suspect by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision, EFCC, Justice Mojisola Dada, Presiding over case on Thursday, adjourned the case till July 19.
The EFCC stated that Abdullahi allegedly defrauded one Alhaji Buba Kimba of the said sum by falsely presenting to him that he had 40,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil to sell.
As submitted by Commision, the suspect, having collected the sum, failed to deliver the product, while all efforts by the petitioner to recover the money from the defendant also proved abortive.
He was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and stealing.
One of the counts read: “That you, Balami Abdullahi, on or about the 24th day of December, 2018 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, knowingly obtained the aggregate sum of N15, 800, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Eight Hundred Naira Only) from one Alhaji Buba Kimba under the false pretence that the said sum represented the cost for the sale of 40, 000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, which you had and ready to sell and deliver to the said Alhaji Buba Kimba and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.”
He pleaded not guilty.
Justice Dada adjourned the matter for the adoption of final written addresses.
