As many Nigerians already suspected before the trial of the alleged fuel subsidy fraudsters commenced,newsmen gathered that the case is set to end up like many others before it. The Lagos High Court trying the case on Thursday granted bail to Mahmud Tukur, son of Bamanga Tukur, PDP chairman.
He was granted bail alongside Ochonogor Alex and Abdullahi Alao. The court then fixed November 13 for their trial, that is almost four months from today.
The court also granted bail to Mamman Nasir Ali, son of Ahmadu Ali, former national chairman of PDP, and Christian Taylor. These ones will return to court on October 30 for trial.
However, information going around is that these high profile individuals played significant financial roles in the election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and have thus sent a strong warning to the President to stop their prosecution or face a full disclosure of how they funneled close to $1 billion towards his 2011 presidential campaign through the Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke and the Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe.
Sources say operators of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited whose MD, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, was docked along with 20 others, have sent a very incriminating information to President Jonathan.
It was learned that the accused Ontario Oil chieftains were shocked by the public humiliation brought upon them by the EFCC.
The most powerful member of the Ontario clan, Mr. Walter Wagbatsoma, reportedly left Nigeria for Paris shortly before the commencement of prosecution by the EFCC.
Meanwhile, EFCC officials have confirmed that Mr. Wagbatsoma has not written any statement or appeared before the agency even though he was listed as one of those to be arraigned by the EFCC.
He is believed to have the key to unlocking the involvement of Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke in the oil subsidy fraud.
Mr. Wagbatsoma is listed as the owner of several companies used to siphon funds from the oil industry, they include: Ontario Oil & Gas Ltd., Ontario Trading Ltd, Ontario Storage Terminals Ltd., Ontario Vessels Ltd., Ontario Drilling and Engineering Services.
A source in Abuja also said that Mr. Orubebe, the Minister of Niger Delta, is on the board of Ontario Oil, although he may not be publicly listed.
In Lagos On Thursday, his prosecution suffered another setback as the court adjourned again following the failure of Mr. Wagbatsoma to appear for his trial.
