Judgment on the culpability or otherwise of Mahmud Tukur, Abdullahi Alao and Alex Ochonogor in a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over their roles in the mismanagement of fuel subsidy funds given to them by the federal government will proceed, beginning with their trial on May 6 and 7, 2013, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos High Court handling the case has said.
The adjournment was handed out by the judge after an EFCC representative, Tayo Olukotun, told the court that the proposed out-of-court settlement between the agency and the indicted Tukur and Ochonogor failed to yield any result. The lawyer explained that the lead counsel to the commission, Rotimii Jacobs, informed him and that as a result, trial of the suspects could commence.
Reacting to the development, Tayo Oyetibo, counsel to Mahmud Tukur, son of Bamanga Tukur, the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Alex Ochonogor, said he was unaware that the negotiation had hit a brick wall as claimed by the EFCC counsel.
He said that courtesy demanded that the EFCC counsel inform him of the breakdown of the out-of-court settlement since he was not talking with a “brick wall” when he was discussing with the agency’s counsel.
He said his clients were not afraid of trial in the alleged N1.2bn fraud levelled against them by the EFCC.
The court had adjourned twice last month as the two parties claimed discussions were still on between them. It also granted Mr. Alao leave to travel abroad but the judge asked that his cases with other courts be verified before he is allowed to embark on such trip.
With the permission granted Alao, his travel documents and international passport would be released to him, as he had earlier begged the court to release them so he could embark on the journey to see his son who is battling certain health challenges.
The suspect is currently facing a N2.6bn subsidy fraud charge before Justice Habeeb Abiru and another six-count charge involving N1.1bn before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.
Justice Onigbanjo also warned that he must return to the country on or before 24th February and should return the passport within 48 hours after his return to the custody of the EFCC.
