A Lagos High Court has dismissed a suit filed by the EFCC against Ifeanyi Anosike and three others in respect of alleged diversion of fuel subsidy funds.

A Lagos State High Court has dismissed a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the Chairman of Anosyke Group of Companies, Ifeanyi Anosike, the company, and three others in respect of alleged diversion of fuel subsidy funds.

Anosike had been arraigned by the EFCC alongside Emeka Chuckwu, Ngozi Ekeoma and Dell Nigeria Limited on an eight-count charge bordering largely on conspiracy to obtain by false pretense and forgery.

But in his verdict, Justice L.B Lawal-Akapo struck out the case and discharged the accused persons.

The ruling followed a submission by the counsel to the first and second defendants, T.A Oladipupo and Princewill Ubani, that since 2016, the plaintiffs had failed to appear in court despite having been duly notified on several occasions.

Besides, the counsel to the third and fifth defendants also averred that the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), was notified and that the defendants also filed a duly acknowledged copy of the notification, all to no avail.

Earlier, Anosike and the others had pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them as they deposed to series of evidence provided through their counsel, against accusations of obtaining by false pretense, forgery, et al, with regard to fuel subsidy claims.

The prosecution, following the evidence so adduced, appeared unwilling to pursue the case as it failed to put up an appearance on many adjourned dates for a period of two years.

Ruling on the application, Justice Lawal-Akapo noted that having been satisfied that the prosecution was duly served notices to argue its case but failed to respond, “this charge is struck out and the accused persons discharged.”

Enthused by the verdict, Anosike said he and his team in Anosyke Group of Companies were poised to take their efforts in oil services delivery to new heights, “following our well-deserved vindication from legal troubles which had bedeviled our noble ambitions in the past few years.”

https://www.concisenews.global/2018/09/06/subsidy-fraud-court-dismisses-suit-against-anosike/