A funny episode is playing out at the court of law over the dramatic twist by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to reduce the One Billion Four Hundred and Seventy One Million Nine Hundred and Sixty Nine Thousand Sixty Hundred and Forty Three Naira Thirty One Kobo oil subsidy theft charge against the son of late islamic cleric, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola Alao, Abdulai to One Hundred and Sixteen Million Naira for lack of substance.
Information pieced by Papermacheonline revealed that the anti corruption agency’s triumph in the celebrated cases of oil theft that became public knowledge some years ago was reduced to mere figment by the report of a private forensic firm which faulted most of the allegations by the EFCC against the Axx Energy boss and the confession of a major witness who claimed he was made to bear witness against Abdulai under duress.
A report by a daily newspaper, Daily Independent also lend credence to the dramatic turn of events where the prosecuting agency could not provide solid evidence to back up the charges against Abdulai.
A part result by the prosecution witness, Okechukwu Opo alleged he was threatened by the EFCC to deny his earlier statement that he indeed signed the Empty Tank Certificate of MT Brave Vessel.
Mr Opo, a surveyor at the General Marine Oil Services gave details of how he was intimated by the EFCC to give a false report that he didn’t sign the Empty Tank Certificate.
A source within the commission disclosed to papermache that ‘Abdulai is just a victim of circumstance and a fall guy used to cover up the dirty deals of other influential individuals who are the principal actors in the oil subsidy case’.
The new development in the case of Abdulai was said to have raised the hopes of others who claimed they had been wrongfully accused and suffered similar fate as Abdulai.
The emerging fresh facts bring a little succor to Abdulai and his counsels who have been putting up a good show at the court to establish his innocence.
The vilification and humiliation he had suffered in the wake of the oil subsidy scandal is likely to be over if his counsels can further convince the court of the faulty charges against him.
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