The Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, sentenced two oil marketers, Mamman Nasir Ali and Christian Taylor, to 14 years each for a N2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud. Justice Mojisola Dada handed down the judgment, following their re-arraignment with Nasaman Oil Services Ltd on a 57-count charge.
The EFCC revealed the defendants were initially charged with conspiracy, forgery, and use of false documents for fraudulently obtaining N1.48 billion from the Nigerian government, claiming it as subsidy for importing over 20 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). One count detailed their false claim of N749 million subsidy linked to imports from companies in the British Virgin Islands, which the court found to be fraudulent.
Nasaman Oil Services Ltd, Mamman Nasir Ali, Christian Taylor, and two others allegedly defrauded the Nigerian government of N1.48 billion by falsely claiming oil subsidy for over 20 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit imported from companies in the British Virgin Islands. The defendants pleaded not guilty.The case was reassigned to Justice Mojisola Dada after the previous judge withdrew. The EFCC presented witnesses and evidence during the trial.
Justice Dada ruled that the defendants undermined Nigeria’s oil subsidy program, sentencing Ali and Taylor to 14 years imprisonment, ordering forfeiture of related assets, and issuing arrest warrants for the two suspects still at large.
