An Indian national, Tukur Shamsudden, and 12 others have been arraigned by the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly conspiring to divert Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) valued at over N4 billion, property of Dangote Industries Limited.
The defendants were brought before Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Those arraigned alongside Shamsudden include Ikechukwu Obi, Chigozie Osukwu, Ukaegbu Chukwuma, Umeh Ugochukwu, Emmanuella Akamadu, Zango Umar, Emmanuel Oku, Shaibu Michael, Lucky Otoide, Mmaduabuchi Okezuonu, Ephraim Kanakapudi, and Omojowo Emmanuel.
They are facing a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful diversion of AGO, and receiving proceeds from fraudulently diverted products.
According to prosecuting counsel, M. Y. Bello, the offences were committed between January 2022 and December 2023.
He told the court that some of the defendants are staff of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, while others are officials of logistics companies contracted to transport diesel from Dangote depots to its Ibese and Obajana plants.
Among the Dangote staff named are Akamadu Emmanuella, Emmanuel Oku, Zango Umar, Lucky Otoide, and Ephraim Kanakapudi.
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Other defendants were said to be employed by Arigen Integrated Ltd, Obat Ltd, Amaiden Energy Ltd, Regal Gate Ltd, Alkham Ltd, Prestige Ltd, and Opetrus Global Ltd.
Shamsudden, representing Regal Gate Ltd, Alkham Ltd, and Prestige Ltd, allegedly diverted 1,530,893 litres of AGO valued at N1.53 billion. Omojowo Emmanuel, as Managing Director of Opetrus Global Ltd, allegedly diverted 2,455,229 litres valued at N2.45 billion on or before December 20, 2023.
The offences contravene Sections 21(a) and 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Sections 383(2)(a) and 10 of the Criminal Code Act.
All 13 defendants pleaded not guilty.
The court heard that some had been previously granted bail under earlier proceedings.
The prosecution also informed the court of an amended charge following the arrest of Shamsudden, Kanakapudi, and Omojowo, leading to their re-arraignment.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter to July 22 and 23, 2025, for the commencement of trial, which is expected to expose further details of how the massive fuel diversion scheme operated under the cover of legitimate supply contracts.
