N1.4bn subsidy scam: You have a case to answer, court tells suspects

Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of an Abuja High Court, yesterday, okayed three accused persons, Helyn Aninye, Chizobam Ben-Okafor and Pon-Specialized Services Limited, for trial following their alleged complicity in an N1.4billion subsidy scam.
Consequently, the court struck out an application that was filed by the accused persons, urging it not to grant the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, leave to prosecute them on allegations bothering on fraud, forgery and conspiracy to obtain the sum of N1.413, 507,951.50 from the Federal Government by false pretence as subsidy under the Petroleum Support Fund.
In a ruling, Justice Goodluck, maintained that the accused persons have a case to answer.
According to the judge, “at this stage there is no requirement to consider facts before the court; what is needed is to determine if a prima facie case against the accused persons is established.
“I am of the view that the proof of evidence suggests elements of forgery and obtaining by false pretences and I therefore overrule the objection of the accused persons and hereby grant leave to prosecution to prefer charge against them.”