An Indian, Tukur Shamsudden, and 12 Nigerians were on Tuesday arraigned before Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court for alleged conspiracy and unlawful diversion of Automotive Gas Oil, commonly known as diesel, valued at over N4 billion, property of Dangote Industries Limited.
The Nigerians are Ikechukwu Obi, Chigozie Osukwu, Ukaegbu Chukwuma, Umeh Ugochukwu, Emmanuella Akamadu (female), Zango Umar, Emmanuel Oku, Shaibu Michael, Lucky Otoide, Mmaduabuchi Okezuonu, Ephraim Kanakapudi, and Omojowo Emmanuel.
They are being charged with 16-point count bordering on conspiracy, unlawful diversion of AGO, and receiving proceeds of fraudulently diverted products.
The Prosecutor, M. Y. Bello, told the court that the defendants are staff of Dangote Industries Limited and officials of transport companies contracted to move diesel from Dangote depots to its Ibese and Obajana plants.
The Dangote Petroleum Industries Limited staff in charge are Akamadu Emmanuella, Emmanuel Oku, Zango Umar, Lucky Otoide, and Ephraim Kanakapudi, while Arigen Integrated Limited, Obat Limited, Amaiden Energy Limited, Regal Gate Limited, Alkham Limited, Prestige Limited, and Opetrus Global Limited are the companies
Bello said the alleged offences were committed between January 2022 and December 2023, adding that Shamsudden, who represented Regal Gate Ltd, Alkham Limited, and Prestige Limited companies contracted by Dangote Industries Limited, diverted 1,530,893 litres of AGO, valued at N1,530,893bn.
He also told the court that Omojowo, acting as the Managing Director and representative of Opetrus Global Ltd, a company contracted to transload AGO from depots to the Dangote tank farm, fraudulently diverted 2,455,229 litres of AGO valued at N2,455,229bn, on or before December 20, 2023.
The prosecutor said the offences committed contravened Sections 21(a) and 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act, and Sections 383(2)(a) and 10 of the Criminal Code Act, and is punishable under Sections 390 and 516.
All 13 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the police.
But Bello told the court that some of the defendants had earlier been granted bail under different conditions when they were first arraigned.
When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday, Bello said there is another amended charge against the defendants, which was filed following the arrest of the Indian and the duo of Ephraim and Omojowo.
Consequently, all defendants were re-arraigned on the amended charge.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the trial to July 22 and 23, 2025, for the commencement of the trial.
