Subsidy fraud: Absence of defence counsel stalls trial of two oil marketers

The absence of defence counsel on Monday stalled the trial of two oil marketers, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Habila Theck, for N979.6 fuel subsidy fraud.
The marketers are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside their firm, Fargo Energy Limited, before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja, Lagos State High Court.
The accused are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and use of forged documents.
At the resumption of proceedings, the EFCC counsel, Francis Usani, informed the court that the accused had no legal representation.
Usani said: “My Lord, I am aware that Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, and Mr. Adebayo Adenipekun, SAN, are in this matter, and there seems to be no explanation for their absence.
“Today was fixed for hearing of two applications filed by the first accused (Ogunbambo).
“One of the applications is for quashing of the charge preferred against him, while the other is asking the court to vacate the forfeiture order on his assets.”
The judge consequently adjourned the matter till June 25 for hearing of the applications.