N1.9b Fraud Convict Collapses before Judge’s Hammer

One of those standing trial in a N1.9billion oil subsidy theft case at a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, collapsed today before the judge could pronounce sentence after finding the suspects guilty on all counts.
Mrs Adaoha Ugo-Ndagi, the Managing Director of Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, got the judgement day postponed till Monday when she slumped before Justice Lateefat Okunnu could pronounce her sentence.
Justice Okunnu had convicted Mrs Ugo-Ndagi and another oil marketer, Walter Wagbatsoma, who were accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of defrauding the Federal Government of N1.9billion.
The Court found them guilty of obtaining N754million from the government through the petroleum product subsidy support fund using fake documents.
They were arraigned on an eight count charge of conspiracy, obtaining property by false pretense, forgery and altering of documents.
While delivering judgment in the 5-year-old case, Justice Okunnu held that the prosecution had been able to prove its case against the convicts beyond all reasonable doubt.
The judge stressed that the convicts knew that the documents they presented to the government to claim subsidy were forged, but they presented them anyway to derive undeserved benefits.
On the issue of conspiracy, the court agreed with the prosecution, stating that there was a meeting of minds as the actions of the convicts was well planned and coordinated to achieve a common criminal goal.
The Judge held: “On the strength of the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses and the volumes of material evidence, I hereby find the defendants guilty on all counts and they are hereby convicted.”
Things took a different turn inside the Court as the judge moved to pronounce the sentence. The only convict in court, Mrs. Ugo-Ndagi slumped and hit her head hard in the dock.
After an initial 15 minutes break before hearing the plea for mercy, the Judge again stood down the matter till 1:15pm to write the sentence.
Immediately the court resumed sitting, the convict who had been chatting with her lawyers and family members in court, fell to her side apparently losing consciousness.
The development forced the Court to adjourn the proceedings to Monday, January 16, to deliver the sentence.
Mrs. Ugo-Ndagi was later rushed by family members and prison officials to Havana Specialist Hospital in Surulere area of Lagos.
Justice Okunnu, however, discharged and acquitted a third defendant, Babafemi Fakuade, an official of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) for lack of evidence linking him to the crime.

The Chairman of Ontario Oil & Gas Limited, Walter Wagbatsoma, had earlier jumped bail by travelling outside the country without court permission.
He was later arrested by United Kingdom authorities in Germany
Wagbatsoma, who is being accused of involvement in a multi-million pound fraud case, had already appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court in London.
The investigation against Wagbatsoma commenced in September 2011 following a report of fraud involving Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.