By Francis IWUCHUKWU
The Chairman of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), Lagos Zone, Fatuyi Yemi Philips was on Thursday remanded in prison custody.
He was remanded in the prison custody of his choice by Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court after being charged alongside his company, Oceanview Oil and Gas Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in charge no ID/17098C/2021.
The NOGASA Chairman was remanded in prison custody of his choice following his arraignment before Justice Mojisola Dada on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence contrary to the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Fraud Related Offences, 2006 and on allegation of stealing contrary to Section 285 (1) of the Criminal Code Law Cap 17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
Count one of the charge reads: “Fatuyi Philips and Oceanview Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, on or about the 28th day of September 2016, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N43,502,000.00 (Forty-Three Million Five Hundred and Two Thousand Naira) from Elochukwu Okoye, and Elebana Unique Ventures Nigeria Limited, on behalf of WAPCIL Nigeria Limited, under the false representation that you would sell to WAPCIL Nigeria Limited $98,870,00 (Ninety-Eight Thousand United States of American Dollars), a representation you knew to be false.”
While count two of the charge states that, ” Philips and Oceanview Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, on or about the 28th day of September 2016, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court stole the sum N43,502,000.00 (Forty-Three Million Five Hundred and Two Thousand Naira) property of WAPCIL Nigeria Limited.
Upon his not guilty plea to the charges, the EFCC counsel S.O Daji, asked for a trial date, but the Defence Counsel who held brief for Augustine I. Ogbodo, Mr Charles Ugbonna informed the court that the first defendant had filed an application for bail on 7th April 2022.
But the Commission’s lawyer urged the court to exercise discretion in granting the defendant’s prayer.
Justice Mojisola Dada upheld Daji’s submission that the application was not riped for hearing.
However, Ogbonna asked the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody. But the judge was opposed to the request stating: ”That is not the law of custody.”
The matter has been adjourned till April 28, 2022, for a hearing of the bail application.
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