By Dapo Akinrefon

TWO oil marketers, Managing Director and General Manager, Operations respectively of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited, Messrs OluwaSeun Ogunbanbo and Habila Teck have faulted the manner Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared them wanted.

They argued that the anti-graft agency acted in bad faith for declaring them wanted without waiting for the determination of their pending suit praying the court to vacate the order as they were merely absent for less than hour before the trial.

The two men have been standing trial before a Lagos State High Court but disappeared after being released on bail, forcing the court to issue a warrant for their arrest.

It will recalled that they are wanted in connection with a case of conspiracy, forgery and obtaining N977 million from the Petroleum Support Fund by false pretence.

In a statement by counsel to the oil marketers, Prince Ajibola Oluyede, stated that the EFCC action was contrary to the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which presumes innocence until proven guilty.

He said the commission was aware of the fact that their clients have laid bare facts before the court stating the circumstance that led to their late arrival in court on the 25th of June, 2013 in a motion filed the following day.

“It has been drawn to our attention that the EFCC has declared our clients, Seun Ogunbambo and Habila Teck wanted. This has occasioned distress and business loss to our clients. The EFCC has no justifiable reason or authority to declare them wanted. An application was filed on the 26th of June 2013 to set aside the order of the Lagos State High Court for bench warrant issued against our clients,” Oluyede said.

He also said that the defendants’ presence in court room on 25 June, 2013 confirmed the fact that they were merely delayed on their way to court rather.

According to him, “we had earlier presented our clients to the court on the 25th of June 2013 and informed the court of the unavoidable incident that caused our clients to be late to court. The learned trial judge had remarked that he would bear our clients presence in court, though belated, in mind when an application is made for the order by the EFCC and ensure that the warrant is not signed.”