Subsidy scam: Tukur, Alao ask court for more time

By ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL OLADEPO

Two oil marketers, Mahmud Tukur and Abdullahi Alao, Thursday asked an Ikeja High Court, for more time  to discuss with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, pertaining to the N1.8 billion fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against them.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo alongside Alex Ochonogor and Eternal Oil and Gas Plc.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, the defence counsel, Mr Tayo Oyetibo SAN and Prof. Taiwo Osipitan SAN, said discussions were still ongoing between both parties.

Oyetibo, said, ”on the last adjourned date, that counsel did took a second look at the matter.

“We are in that process and are asking for one more opportunity to come to terms with the conditions.

“We have not been able to conclude because of certain reasons but if we are given a little time, we will be able to make progress.

EFCC counsel, Mrs Taiwo Ogunleye also confirmed the development.

The trial judge granted their request and adjourned the matter to January 30, 2013 to enable the parties conclude their discussions.

However, the court ordered EFCC to release the international travelling documents of Tukur and Ochonogor to enable them travel to the United Kingdom and France for business purposes.

Onigbanjo said the defendants have kept faithfully to their bail terms since the matter began.

He asked the defendants to return the documents to the custody of the EFCC, upon their return to Nigeria, on or before January 25, 2013