TWO oil marketers were sentenced to 14 years imprisonment each on Tuesday after being convicted of defrauding the Nigerian government of N2.2 billion through a sophisticated oil subsidy scheme that operated for years.
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, handed down the sentences to Mamman Nasir Ali and Christian Taylor following their conviction on multiple counts of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and forgery. The defendants, along with their company, Nasaman Oil Services Limited, had orchestrated an elaborate fraud targeting Nigeria’s Petroleum Support Fund.
The Massive Deception
The court heard how the defendants created fictitious oil importation deals, claiming to have purchased and imported millions of litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) that never existed. In one transaction alone, they fraudulently obtained N1.48 billion by falsely claiming they had imported over 20 million litres of fuel through vessels with names like MT Liquid Fortune and MT Hellenic Blue.
The prosecution, led by Seiduh Atteh, revealed that the defendants fabricated documents showing purchases from SEATAC Petroleum Ltd of the British Virgin Islands—transactions that investigators determined were completely bogus. The elaborate scheme involved creating false shipping records, forged certificates, and phantom supply agreements to support their fraudulent subsidy claims.
Years-Long Legal Battle
The case began when the defendants were first arrested and charged with massive fraud. Initially tried before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, the case was reassigned to Justice Dada after the first judge withdrew. The defendants faced an amended 57-count charge, an increase from the original 49 counts, as investigators uncovered additional evidence of their criminal activities.
Throughout the trial, Ali and Taylor maintained their innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges. However, the mountain of evidence presented by prosecutors—including witness testimony and documentary proof—painted a clear picture of systematic fraud designed to pillage Nigeria’s oil subsidy program.
Justice Served, Fugitives Sought
Justice Dada declared the prosecution’s evidence “compelling” and found that the defendants’ actions had not only robbed the government but also “undermined the integrity of Nigeria’s oil subsidy programme.” Beyond the prison sentences, she ordered the forfeiture of all assets and bank accounts linked to the fraud.
The court also issued arrest warrants for two co-conspirators still at large: Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul-Afeez, who remain fugitives from justice.
The convicted marketers were immediately transported to correctional facilities to begin serving their sentences, marking the end of a complex case that exposed the vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s fuel subsidy system and demonstrated the government’s commitment to prosecuting those who steal public funds.
This conviction represents one of the most significant victories in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against oil sector corruption, sending a strong message that such massive fraud will be met with severe consequences.
