An Indian national, Tukur Shamsudden, alongside 12 others, was on Tuesday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos by the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, over the alleged unlawful diversion of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) worth over N4 billion, belonging to Dangote Industries Limited.
The defendants, including staff of Dangote Petroleum Industries Limited and personnel from various contracted transport firms, were brought before Justice Deinde Dipeolu on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent diversion of AGO, and receiving proceeds from the illegally diverted products.
Those arraigned are 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.
According to the prosecuting counsel, Mr. M.Y. Bello, the offences were committed between January 2022 and December 2023. Bello alleged that Shamsudden, representing Regal Gate Ltd, Alkham Ltd, and Prestige Ltd, diverted 1,530,893 litres of diesel valued at N1.53 billion.
Similarly, Omojowo, identified as the Managing Director of Opetrus Global Ltd, allegedly diverted 2,455,229 litres of AGO worth N2.45 billion, on or before December 20, 2023.
The offences are said to contravene the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Criminal Code Act.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court was informed that some of the accused had previously been granted bail under varying conditions.
The prosecutor also presented an amended charge following the arrest of Shamsudden, Kanakapudi, and Omojowo, leading to the re-arraignment of all 13 accused persons.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter to July 22 and 23, 2025, for trial commencement.
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