N963.7m subsidy fraud: EFCC insists oil marketer, Jibril, did not import fuel

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday claimed that an oil marketer, Rowaye Jubril, did not import the petroleum products for which he received N963.7 million subsidy.

The EFCC made the allegation through one of its officers, Mrs Tolulola Olanubi, at the resumed trial of Jubril before an Ikeja High Court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jubril is being prosecuted alongside his company — Brila Energy Ltd.

Olanubi, who was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr Seidu Atteh, said she was a member of the special team that investigated the alleged fraud in the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) scheme.

She said the accused had obtained the money from the Federal Government for the purported importation of 13,500 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol).

The witness said:“The accused had claimed that there was a ship-to-ship transfer of the products between the mother vessel — MT Overseas Lima and the daughter vessel — MT Delphina.

“The purported transfer took place between Jan. 26 and 27, 2011 at off-shore Cotonou in Benin Republic.’’

Olanubi said investigations carried out by the EFCC revealed that the transfer never took place as claimed by the marketer.

She said Llyod Lister, an agency which monitors the movement of international vessels, also confirmed that the product was not imported.

“I accessed the Llyod Lister’s data base to track the movement of the vessels.

“I observed that MT Overseas Lima was at Port Everglades in the United States on the day the accused claimed the ship-to-ship transfer took place.

“MT Delphina was at Tin Can Island, Lagos, on the same day that the transfer was said to have taken place at off-shore Cotonou,” the witness said.

Justice Lateefat Okunnu has fixed Oct. 18 for continuation of trial of the case. (NAN)