A prosecution witness, Mr Kehinde Akinmolayo, on Tuesday accused two oil marketers and a banker of N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.
Akinmolayo, a former Terminal Manager of Lister Jetty, Apapa, was testifying at the trial of the accused persons before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the marketers, Opeyemi Ajuyah and Abdullahi Alao are standing trial alongside their firms, Majope Investment Ltd. and Axenergy Ltd.
They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside a staff of Sterling Bank Plc, Olanrewaju Olalusi.
The EFCC alleged that the marketers had discharged 4,264 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit but had collected subsidy payment for 15,000 metric tonnes from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Mr Seidu Atteh, the witness who was summoned by the court to testify, said he supervised the said transaction between Jan. 20 and Jan. 22, 2011.
“The vessel, MT Brave came to our jetty and we attended to it.
“We discharged 4,264 metric tonnes into the tank farm and the balance was taken away,’’ Atteh said.
Under cross-examination by the defence lawyers, Mr Olarenwaju Ajanaku and Mr Aderemi Oguntoye, the witness denied that his life was being threatened as alleged by the EFCC.
“ I have not been attacked but I am conscious of my security,’’ Akinmolayo said.
He also stated that none of the documents relating to the said transaction was signed by him because he only played a supervisory role.
The witness said Alao was the Finance Director of Lister Jetty at the time of the transaction, adding that he was not sacked as alleged by Oguntoye.
Responding, both lawyers accused Akinmolayo of being economical with the truth and said that he had been induced to lie against the defendants.
NAN reports that the matter was adjourned till Nov. 10 for continuation of trial
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