CAN ADOKE MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

Mohammed Adoke, SAN

Mohammed Adoke,  a senior advocate of Nigeria, an indigine of Kogi state and current attorney general of the federation, during ministerial screening  in 2010 pledged his allegiance to Nigeria as a country instead of being partisan. He gave this answer to the senate who wanted to know

his  political inclination.  This ongoing trials of fuel subsidy scam will help to confirm his true position as the number one legal officer in Nigeria as of today

After the submission of  Report on fuel subsidy investigation by the Lawan Farouk led panel, so many far reaching recommendations were listed by the panel among which was the prosecution of the indicted industry players. Many gave kudos to the panel and especially the Chairman, Honorable Farouk Lawal for their bold steps in blacklisting the money bags that have been taking advantage of Nigeria fuel subsidy regime. Nigerians raised alarm when they perceived that the panel was compromising in their investigation but the panel  promised that nothing will stop them from publishing the names of  those indicted.

Unfortunately, nobody believed that Farouk Lawan took bribe from the oil magnate, Femi Otedola in order to de-list his company, Zenon oil and gas from the list of indicted companies. That case has not been closed up till now but he is still walking freely when he was supposed to be under trial. Nevertheless, his journey to Saudi Arabia for a lesser Hajji was truncated yesterday August 07 by the SSS at the Muritala Mohammed Airport to avoid escaping from the country until he is tried.
At first, Mohammed Adoke, Nigerian Attoney General and Minister of Justice stated that those indicted will not be prosecuted because there is no evidence against them; and that Farouk Lawan's report is just recommendations. He however promised that EFCC will look into the matter to know who and who has a case to answer.More than 3 months after the submission of Farouk Lawal led committe report, the Federal government promised to arraign the first batch of Companies named in the scam and they include Nasaman Oil Services; Eternal Oil and Gas Plc; Ontario Oil & Gas Plc; Nadabo Energy Limited; Pacific Silver Line Limited; Axenergy Limited; Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited while the individuals whose names have come up in the scam are: Mamman Nasir Ali; Christian Taylor; Mahmud Tukur; Ochonogor Alex; Walter Wagbatsoma; Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi; Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer, a staff of the PPRA ; Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele, a Director at Akintola Williams Deliote Accounting firm; Abubakar Ali Peters; Jude Agube Abalaka and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo.

Nasaman Oil Services; Mamman Nasir and Christian Taylor are to face charges bordering on obtaining N4, 460, 130, 797. 94 (Four Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira, Ninety Four Kobo) from the Federal Government of Nigeria under false pretence. The sum is alleged to have been fraudulently obtained as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 30.5million litres of Premium Motor Spirit from SEATAC Petroleum Limited of British Virgin Islands.

The list includes Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex and Eternal Oil And Gas Plc who will be docked for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1, 899, 238, 946. 02 (One Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety Nine Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty Six Naira, Two Kobo) from the Petroleum support Fund for a purported importation of 80.3million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

Nadabo Energy Limited, Abubakar Ali Peters, Jude Agube Abalaka and Pacific Silver Line Limited are also to be prosecuted for allegedly obtaining the sum of N1, 464, 961, 978.24 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty Four Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Eight Naira, Twenty- Four Kobo ), being payments fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 19.4million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

Walter Wagbatsoma; Adaoha Ugo -Ngadi; Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer; Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele and Ontario Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited will be arraigned for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1, 959, 377, 542, .63 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Two Naira, Sixty Three Kobo) from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 39.2 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo are to be docked for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N979,653,110.20 ( Nine Hundred and Seventy Nine Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira, Twenty Eight Kobo), from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 33, 627, 84 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

But I am afraid that Jonathan led government does not have the will power to fight corruption, the trial of the first batch of the oil subsidy fraud suspects slated for Wednesday July 25, 2012 in Lagos Lagos High Court did not see the light of the day due to the absence of Mohammed Adoke who was supposed to lead the prosecution team. The matter was adjourned by the  Court  to thursday July 26, 2012. It was recently that some of the names listed as the beneficiaries were removed from the list and my question is: Does it mean that those marketers did not commit anything and were enlisted for no just cause? We shall see as time flies.Today, he is telling us today that the marketers are going to be tried in batches after diligence investigation must have been concluded carried out on them and concrete evidence found out against them. That is no problem but  the challenge is whether Adoke will play politics with this all important issues. We know in this country that our Justice ministers are tend to be partisan not minding that the position is associated with neutrality when it comes to dispensation of justice. Let he not be another Andoaaka since their names sound alike.

Dear AGF, remember your answer to the national assembly when you were aspiring for this position of AGF. This is a beautiful opportunity to carve your name in Gold by securing convictions for as many of them that siphoned our money illegally. Nigerians are watching, the world is watching.