An Ikeja High Court, Lagos on Friday dismissed three fresh
application filed by oil marketer, Abdulahi Alao, son of Ibadan-based
businessman, Abdulhazeez Arisekola- Alao who is standing trial for alledged
N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.
Abdullahi who was arraigned and charged by the EFCC with two other oil
Marketers, Opeyemi Ajuyah and Olarenwaju Olalusi last year and their companies –
Majope Investments Ltd and Axenergy Ltd , had filed application that the court
should set aside its October 21, 2O13 ruling which dismissed his previous
application to quash the charges. His second
application urged the court to stay further proceedings on the trial, pending
the determination of his appeal against the ruling at the court of Appeal,
Lagos. The third Application had sought for a referral of the matter
to the Court of Appeal.
Justice Lateefa Okunnu in her ruling struck the
applications on the grounds that prayers being sought for had been previously
determined by the Supreme Court in other matters. The Judge also said the
applications were an abuse of Court processes.
She said Section 277 of the Administration of Criminal
Justice Law of Lagos State states that “ an appeal for stay of proceedings
shall not be entertained until judgement is delivered in a Criminal matter.” “It
is a roundabout attempt to stall proceedings,” she ruled. Justice Okunnu
therefore, adjourned the matter till February 27, 2014 for continuation of
trial.
The defendants are facing an eight- court charge bordering
on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretense, forgery, uttering and use
of false documents. EFCC alleged that they imported about 4,000 metric tonnes
of petroleum products but obtained subsidy payment for 15,000 metric tonnes.
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