Court sentences two to 10 years imprisonment for oil fraud in Lagos

Glory Ebomah

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction of one Epebinu Omoniyi, his company, Pure Pack Oil Nigeria Ltd., as well as Adekanbi Adedayo and his company, First Hallmark Energy Ltd., who were prosecuted before Justice S.S. Ogunsanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, for offences bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, obtaining by false pretence, conspiracy to commit felony and forgery.

They were first arraigned alongside their companies on October 16, 2017, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, obtaining by false pretence, conspiracy to commit felony and forgery.

One of the counts reads: “Epebinu Omoniyi, Adekanbi Adedayo, First Hallmark Energy Ltd, Pure Pack Oil Limited, Titus Adegoke (at large) and Demola Omisore (at large), on or about the 8th day of December 2014 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira) from Ayo Faleti under the false representation that you have secured a contract from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to supply crude oil from Nigeria to the United States of America and that the sum represented one per cent contract performance bond payment, which representation you knew to be false.”

Another count reads: “Epebinu Omoniyi, Adekanbi Adedayo, First Hallmark Energy Ltd, Pure Pack Oil Limited, Titus Adegoke (at large) and Demola Omisore (at large), on or about the 22nd October 2014 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud Ayo Faleti, forged a document titled: To whom it may concern, Letter of authority to sell Bonny Light Crude and to represent the NNPC/Shell JV Operators Bonny Terminal issued in favour of Pure Pack Oil Nigeria Limited dated 22nd October 2014 purporting same to be issued by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).”

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said in the course of the trial, the prosecuting counsel, M.S. Owede presented four witnesses and tendered 12 exhibits to prove the case of the prosecution against the defendants.

Delivering judgement today, March 17, 2022, Justice Ogunsanya discharged and acquitted them on count six and held that the prosecution proved the other counts against them beyond a reasonable doubt.

The trial Judge, thereafter, found them guilty as charged and sentenced Omoniyi and Adedayo to seven years on counts one and two, and three years on counts three, four, five, seven and eight.

The companies were also each fined N100, 000, having been found guilty of counts one and two.

The sentences are to run concurrently.