An India citizen, Tukur Shamsudden, alongside 13 individuals have been arraigned by the Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU, Ikoyi, Lagos, for alleged conspiracy and diverting Automated Gasoline Oil, popularly called diesel value over N4 billion, belonging to Dangote Industries Limited.
Others arraigned alongside the Indian man, before Justice Deinde Dipeolu were Ikechukwu Obi, Chigozie Osukwu, Ukaegbu Chukwuma, Umeh Ugochukwu, Akamadu Emmanuella, a woman, Zango Umar, Emmanuel Oku, Shaibu Michael, Lucky Otoide, Mmaduabuchi Okezuonu, Ephraim Kanakapudi and Omojowo Emmanuel.
The defendants, who include staff of Dangote Industries Limited, and some officials of transport companies contracted for transporting Diesel from Dangote Deport to Ibese and Obajana Plants, were arraigned of a 16 count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful diversion of petroleum product (AGO) and receiving proceed of fraudulent division.
Those listed as staff of Dangote Petroleum Industries Limited among the defendants are: Akamadu Emmanuella (f); Emmanuel Oku; Zango Mohammed Umar; Lucky Otoide Simon and Ephraim Kanakapudi. While others were said to be staff of Arigen Integrated Limited; Obat Limited; Amaiden Energy Limited; Regal Gate Limited; Alkham Limited; Prestige Limited and Opetrus Global Limited.
The prosecuting police officer, Barrister M. Y. Bello, informed the court that all the defendants committed the offences between January, 2022 and December 2023.
The prosecutor particularly informed the court that the India man, Tukur Shamsudden, while acting as representative of Regal Gate Ltd, Alkham Limited and Prestige Limited, the firms contracted by Dangote Industries Limited, allegedly diverted 1, 530, 893 billion liters of AGO valued N1, 530, 893 billion.
He also told the court that Omojowo Emmanuel, on or before December 20, 2023, while acting as Managing Director and representative of Opetrus Global Ltd, a firm contracted by Dangote Industries Limited to trans-load Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) from Depots to Dangote tank farm with intent to permanently deprive the owner, did fraudulently diverted 2, 455, 229 billion liters of AGO valued N2, 455, 229 billion.
He further told the court that the defendants’ act contravened sections 21(a), 18(2) (d) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.
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He also told the court that their acts contravened sections 383 (2)(a); 10 of the Criminal Code Act Cap. C38 and punishable under Section 390 and 516of the same Act.
All the defendants denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Meanwhile, some of the defendants have been admitted to bail on various terms, when they were earlier arraigned before the court.
But at the resuming hearing of the matter Tuesday, the prosecutor informed the court of another amended charge against the defendants.
He told the court that the amended charge was sequel to arrest of the Indian man and the duo of Ephraim Kanakapudi and Omojowo Adeleke Emmanuel. Hence, all the defendants were arraigned on the amended charge.
However, the judge has fixed July 22 and 23, 2025, for the commencement of trial of all defendants.
Count one of the charge reads: that you Ikechukwu Obi ‘M’, Chigozie Osukwu ‘M’, Ukaegbu Rex Chukwuma ‘M’, Umeh Ugochukwu ‘M’, Akamadu Emmanuella ‘F’, Zango Umar ‘M’, Emmanuel Oku ‘M’, Shaibu Michael ‘M’, Lucky Otoide ‘M’, Mmaduabuchi Okezuonu, Ephraim Kanakapudi ‘M’ Tukur Shamsudden ‘‘M’ Omojowo Adeleke Emmanuel ‘M’ and Others at Large sometimes in 2022, did conspire amongst yourself to commit felony to wit: Fraudulently receiving money from Dangote Transporters contracted to haul Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) from Dangote Deport to Ibese and Obajana Plants, which you ought to know formed part of proceeds of crime thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) of Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.
