The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 arraigned the duo of Samson Lawal Onobere, managing director, Etsam Oil and Gas Services Limited and Michael Morowei, a.k.a. Fubara Dan Jumbo, before Justice Aladetoyinbo of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a 22-count charge bordering on fraud, conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N119, 000.000.00(One Hundred and Nineteen Million Naira).

The accused persons, who were arraigned alongside their companies( Estam Oil and Gas Services Limited, Magnificent Marine Limited and Charter Marine Limited), allegedly obtained the said sum from the complainant, Ismaila Ahmed Olokun, managing director, L’Huille Omig Limited, under the pretext of selling two million barrels of Bony Light Crude Oil from the NNPC/ Shell JV OPS to him.
 
One of the counts reads:  ‘‘That you, Samson Lawal Onobere, being the managing director of Etsam Oil and Gas  Services Limited, Etsam Oil and Gas Services Limited on or about the 4th February, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction  of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N90,000,000.00( Ninety Million Naira) only from Ismaila Ahmed Olokun, Managing Director, L’Huille Omig Limited paid on your instruction through the account of Shola Abeji and Partners, Zenith Bank Plc Account no.: 1012632294 under the false pretence that the said amount was payment for processing / facilitating the sale of two million barrels of Bonny Light Crude Oil from the NNPC/ Shell JV OPS to L’ Huille Omig Limited, which representation you knew to be false.’’
 
Another count reads:  ‘‘That you, Samson Lawal Onobere, being the managing director of Etsam Oil and Gas Services Limited, Etsam Oil and Gas Services Limited, Michael Morowei, (alias ‘‘Fubara Dan Jumbo’’,  ‘‘Boma Harry’’), George Olotu( alias ‘‘Engr. Henry Okemute’’,  ‘‘Maxwell Preye’’, ‘‘ Harrison Ogah’’( now at large), being the Directors of Messrs Magnificent Marine Limited and Charter Marine Limited, sometimes between February, 2013  and July, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory , Abuja, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N119,000,000.00 ( One Hundred and Nineteen Million Naira) only from one Ismaila Ahmed Olokun, Managing Director of L’Huille Omig Limited under the pretext of selling two million barrels of Bonny Light Crude Oil from the NNPC/ Shell JV OPS to L’ Huille Omig Limited, which representation you knew to be false.’’
 
The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
 
In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahil, asked for a trial date.
 
However, Babatunde Oyefeso, counsel to the first accused, Onobere, as well Dr. Alex Akunebu, counsel to the third accused,  Morowei urged the court to grant their clients bail.
 
Consequently, Justice Aladetoyinbo granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N60m each with one surety each. Each of the surety must be a senior civil servant who must have a landed property within the jurisdiction of the FCT, which must be verified by both  the EFCC and the court registrar.

Justice Aladetoyinbo ordered Onobere to be remanded in Kuje prison, while Morowei  should be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the commencement of trial on  April 21, 2016.

Media & Publicity Unit