EFCC arraigns three for N100m DESOPADEC fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arraigned three directors of an oil firm, Partsmaster Oil and Gas Limited, for allegedly diverting N100m meant for the payment of contractors who executed a job for the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.

The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that the accused persons, Gregory Eriyanremu, Frank Ugen and Harriman Oyofo were arraigned before Justice T. O. Uloho of the Delta State High Court sitting in Warri on five charges bordering on stealing.

The suspects were arraigned alongside their company, Partsmaster Oil and Gas Limited.

The offence is contrary to Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. C21, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2006.

One of the counts reads, “That you, Partsmaster Oil and Gas Limited, Gregory Eriyamrernu, Frank Ugen and Harriman Isa Oyofo sometime between June and August 2010 at Warri in the Warri judicial division of the High Court of Delta State, stole the sum of N32,003,488.38 being money meant for payment to Ogbo Ode &Co. for contract job executed for DESOPADEC by fraudulently converting the said sum to your own use”.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In view of their plea, the counsel for the EFCC, Kayode Oni, asked the court to fix a date for commencement of trial. However, counsel for the accused persons pleaded with the court to allow them to continue on the bail conditions granted the accused persons when they were first arraigned.

Justice Uloho adjourned till April 7, 2017 for trial and ordered the accused persons to continue on the bail earlier granted them by court.