The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the arrest of a fleeing worker of the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Emmanuel Oku, who was allegedly involved in a diesel fraud of ₦740 million.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu issued a bench warrant against Oku on Friday after the latter failed to appear in court for trial despite being granted bail.
The prosecuting counsel, Barrister M.Y. Bello, made the application for Oku’s warrant after arguing that the Dangote worker had evaded justice.
Oku is one of the 11 defendants charged by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, for their alleged roles in a massive fraud involving the diversion of Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) meant for Dangote Industries.
The accused are said to have defrauded Dangote Industries of approximately ₦19 billion between January 2022 and June 2023.
The other defendants include Ikechukwu Kingsley Obit, Chigozie Chrisogonus Osukwu, Ukaegbu Rex Chukwuma, Umeh Johnpaul Ugochukwu, Akamadu Emmanuella, Zango Mohammed Umar, Shaibu Michael, Lucky Otoide, and Mmaduabuchi Okezuonu.
The charges, spread across 11 counts, include conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering with the defendants, who were employed directly or indirectly by Dangote Industries or its subcontractors, alleged to have received illicit funds from transporters contracted to haul AGO to the company’s facilities in Ibese and Obajana.