A Lagos Federal High Court, has ordered that a bench warrant be issued against a haulage operator, Adolphus Irunokah Peter, over his failure to appear before the court, to take plea on charges of conspiracy and unlawful diversion of Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), popularly called diesel, valued at N882.8 million, belonging to Dangote Industries Limited.
Justice Akintayo Aluko, who presided over the court, made the order, after hearing Barrister Elliot Ejie, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) from Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi-Lagos, who moved an expert motion for the order.
Justice Aluko also, ordered that the two haulage trucks with the registration numbers, EHR 360 UU and LSD 152 XR, used for the alleged offence, be in the custody of the PSFU till the determination of the charges against the haulage operator, Adolphus Irunokah Peter.
The police through PSFU has dragged the haulage operator, his company, Adokhai Global Resources Nigeria Limited and an accountant with Dangote Industries Limited, Falako Emmanuel, before the court on a four count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful diversion of 1, 729, 396 million litres of AGO, valued at N882, 804.776,12 million and bribery and corruption.
The defendants were charged before the court in a charge marked FHC/L/631c/2023.
The continued absence of the haulage operator in court despite being served with copy of the charge and other accompanying documents through their lawyers, as ordered by the court, has stalled the arraignment of other defendant in the charge.