A businessman, Adamu Ali Muhammed, has been arraigned before a Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court, sitting at Yaba, on charges of alleged conspiracy and diversion of 90, 000 litres Automated Gasoline Oil (AGO) popularly called diesel, belonging to Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited.
The businessman was arraigned before Chief Ejiro Kujenbe on the alleged crimes, by the operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
Arraigning the businessman today, the prosecuting police officer, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, told the court he conspired with some individuals, to commit the alleged crimes.
Barrister Animashaun told the court that the defendant and others now at large, committed the alleged crimes in January 27, 2025.
He also told the court the defendant and others say d to be at large, dishonestly took delivery and 90, 000 litres of diesel, valued N142 million, property of Alhaji Bolaji Saheed, and diverted same.
He also told the court that upon commission of the alleged crimes, he fled only to be tracked and arrested at Yobe State.
He told the court that the offences contravened sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state 2015 and punishable under section 287(5) of the same Laws.
Meanwhile, the businessman has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges. And based on his not guilty plea, his lawyer, Iyeruokin A. O., orally applied for his bail and which he pleaded with to the court to be in liberal terms.
The prosecutor, hinted the court that the bail terms should be in terms that that will ensure defendant’s appearance in court until the charge is disposed off.
Chief Magistrate Kujenbe after listening to the prosecutor and the defendant’s lawyer, admitted bail to the defendant he sum of N500, 000. 00, with three sureties in like sum.
The Chief Magistrate ordered the sureties to present evidence of three years tax payment, means of livelihood, adding that the prosecution should verify the bail conditions.
Chief Magistrate Kujenbe, while adjourning the matter to.., for mention, ordered that the businessman be remanded in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS, pending when he is able to fulfill the bail terms.
Charges against the Businessman read: “That you Adamu Ali Muhammed ‘M’ and others (now at large) on or about the 27th January, 2025 Lekki, Lagos In the Lagos Magisterial District, conspired amongst yourself to commit a Felony to wit: steal the diesel gotten from Dangote Refinery, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state 2015.
That you Adamu Ali Muhammed ‘M’ and others (now at large) on or about the 27th January, 2025 Lekki, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, dishonestly took delivery and diverted 90, 000 litres of diesel (AGO) product valued N142, 000, 000.00 (One Hundred and Forty-Two Million Naira) property of Alhaji Bolaji Saheed, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287(5) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state 2015.”
