By Giwa SHILE
Some customers of the defunct Spring Bank on Monday stormed the premises of an Ikeja Special Offences Court demanding justice in a case involving an 200 million dollars diesel scam that allegedly crippled the bank.
The case involved an international oil company, Trafigura Baheer BV and its Nigerian associates, Yahaya Kwande, Osahon Asemota, and three other companies- Mettle Energy and Gas Ltd and Renbrandt Ltd and Jil Engineering and Oil Services Ltd.
They are to face a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit a felony, stealing and receiving stolen property proffered against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During the last court proceedings held on Oct. 22, the arraignment of the accused persons was stalled due to their absence.
The protesters carried various placards with inscriptions like: “Renbrandt and Mettle are thieves” “Osahon Asemota thief, Yusuf Kwande Omo Ale (bastard),” “Trafigura thief, they stole Spring Bank money and killed the bank.”
The protesters claimed that Spring Bank collapsed because it financed the oil contract, thereby making them to lose their deposits.
The protesters urged Justice Mojisola Dada, the presiding judge to do justice in the case by ordering the defendants to refund the money they allegedly stole from Spring Bank so that they can retrieve their deposits.
earlier during proceedings, Mr Anthony Agarunwonyi, defence counsel to Asemota, Mettle Energy and Gas Ltd as well as Renbrandt Ltd, informed the court that as with the prior court proceedings, his client was unavoidably absent in court due to alleged ill health.
“My client (Asemota) can hardly walk, I challenge the lead prosecution counsel to the EFCC to use instrument at their disposal to verify the health status of Asemota.
“I hereby urge the court to grant an adjournment again for the second defendant to get better,” he said.
Agarunwonyi provided a copy of the medical report he had produced in court at the last court proceedings promising that he will soon present a fresh medical report to the court.
Reacting, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) the lead prosecuting counsel for the EFCC described Asemota’s medical report as “strange” noting it did not disclose any information.
Justice Dada also reminded Agarunwonyi of his promise to during the last court proceedings to ensure that Asemota attends the court proceedings.
The lawyer pleaded with the court to give Asemota more time to recover.
During Monday’s proceedings Trafigura was represented in court by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) represented Kwande, the third defendant.
Justice Dada adjourned the case until Nov. 28, for arraignment and trial of the defendants.
According to the charge sheet made in Lagos, the two accused Kwande and Asemota alongside Trafigura PTE Ltd, Mettle Energy and Gas Ltd and Renbrandt Ltd allegedly committed the offence of stealing between Oct. 22 and Dec. 15, 2008.
The EFCC alleged that at the office of Trafigura Beheer BV located at 20A Sinaro Daranijo St., off Ligali Ayorinde St., Victoria Island, Lagos, they fraudulently converted 6.4million metric tonnes of Automated Gas Oil (AGO).
The allegedly stolen AGO belongs to Nadabo Energy Ltd.
Another company – Jil Engineering and Oil Services Ltd, allegedly fraudulently received the stolen AGO which had been under the legal custody of Spring Bank, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The offences contravened Sections 383(1), 427 and 516 of the Criminal Code 2004.
