Police Investigate N832m Fresh Subsidy Scam

The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police says it
has commenced investigation into the N832 million fraud allegedly perpetrated
by some oil marketers.

This is contained in a statement signed by the unit’s
spokesperson, Mrs Ngozi Isintume, and made available to newsmen in Lagos on
Saturday.

“The oil marketers allegedly defrauded the nation of about
7,000 tonnes of petroleum products (fuel) valued at N832m.

“The marketers fraudulently diverted the said products with
forged documents submitted to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency
(PPPRA), Abuja, for subsidy payment,’’ the statement alleged.

It said that a petition received by the SFU from the United
Bank for Africa Plc alleged that a facility for one billion naira was granted
to one of the suspects in June 2011.

The statement said that the bank’s facility was to finance
the importation of the 7,000 tonnes of PMS for supply to acceptable off-takers.

“They were expected to return the evidence for the discharge
of the products at a designated tank farm in Nigeria to enable Menol Oil &
Gas Ltd. to collect SDNB from PPPRA to liquidate the facility.

“Investigation revealed that 7,000mt of PMS arrived the
shores of this country and the first suspect entrusted the whole consignment to
the second suspect and her company to handle.

“The product was supposed to be discharged at Integrated Oil
& Gas Depot, Lagos, but was later diverted to an unknown destination by the
second suspect’s company,” it said.

The statement said that the suspects were in custody
assisting detectives in their investigation.