Accused Subsidy Fraudster Escaped to Canada – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday told a Lagos High Court in Ikeja that an accused person being prosecuted for separate fraud charges, including an alleged N979.6m fuel subsidy fraud, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, had fled to Canada.

EFCC counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Jackson, said this before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo while opposing an application by the accused seeking an order of stay of execution of a bench warrant issued for his arrest.

The EFCC is prosecuting Ogunbambo alongside Habila Theck and their company, Fargo Energy Ltd.

Ogunbambo is also standing trial for separate bank and fuel subsidy fraud charges before the Lagos High Court.

The anti-graft agency had declared Ogunbambo wanted following the bench warrant issued against him when he repeatedly failed to attend his trial. His co-accused, Theck, had always been present in court.

Jackson told Onigbanjo on Thursday that the EFCC had not been able to execute the bench warrant against the accused.

He said the intelligence gathered indicated that the accused had fled to Canada.

Jackson said, “We have deposed in our affidavit that intelligence available to the EFCC is that the defendant (Ogunbambo) has left the country for Canada.

“The commission is concerned because of the number of cases we have filed against him.”

The bench warrant was issued against the accused on February 10.

However, the accused person’s lawyer, Mr. Raphael Oluyede, had on February 11 filed a notice of appeal against the judgment and also a stay of execution of the bench warrant.

Moving the application on Thursday, Oluyede urged the court to restrain the EFCC from arresting the accused pending when his appeal against the order of bench warrant would be determined.

The court adjourned till April 28 for ruling.

Follow GistaNaija on Twitter @GistaNaija and Facebook GistaNigeria

Weird Stories | Weight Loss & Fitness Tips |Small Business Guide | Infotech Arena Tech News