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N1.1b Fuel Subsidy Fraud: Court Dismisses Oil Marketer’s Applications

A Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja has dismissed three applications filed by an oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao, who is standing trial over his alleged … Continue reading N1.1b Fuel Subsidy Fraud: Court Dismisses Oil Marketer’s Applications


A Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja has dismissed three applications filed by an oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao, who is standing trial over his alleged involvement in a N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

Justice Lateefat Okunnu threw out Alao’s applications for lack of merit and abuse of court processes.

The first of the three dismissed applications had prayed the court to set aside its October 21 ruling that dismissed defendant’s previous application to quash the charges.

Alao’s second application had prayed the court to stay further proceedings on the trial, pending the determination of his appeal against an earlier ruling of the lower court at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.

The last application by the defendant had urged the court to refer the matter to the Court of Appeal for determination.

However, in her ruling, Justice Okunnu struck out the applications on the grounds that the prayers being sought for had been previously determined by the Supreme Court in other matters.

According to the judge, Section 277 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State states that “an appeal for stay of proceedings shall not be entertained until judgment is delivered in a criminal matter”.

She further held that the applications “are a roundabout attempt to stall proceedings and an abuse of the process of the court”.

The court has adjourned the matter till February 27, 2014 for continuation of trial.