From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos
Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos High Court yesterday struck out the application of an oil marketer, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, and three others seeking to quash the fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for lack of merit.
It would be recalled that, the EFCC had arraigned Ogunbambo over alleged N4.4 billion fuel subsidy scam alongside Mamman Ali, son of Dr. Ahmadu Ali, a former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Christian Taylor and their firm – Nassaman Oil Services.
Ogunbambo, who was absent in court had through an application filed by his counsel, R.A Oluyede prayed the court to quash all the counts and filed against him for lack of jurisdiction and also to discharge him.
In his reaction, counsel to EFCC Rotimi Oyedepo asked the court to dismiss the application on the ground that it is premature at this stage when plea had been taken by the defendant and trial had commenced.
Justice Onigbanjo in his short ruling dismissed the application for lacking in merit.
Earlier, the judge re-emphasied his bench warrant issued against Ogunbambo in another subsidy matter before him and adjourned till May 6, 2014 for continuation of trial.
