Fuel subsidy: EFCC quizzes Ubah

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission onTuesday arrested theManaging Director of Capital Oil and GasIndustries Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah.

Sources said he was arrested by the security operatives of the commission in his Abuja home in connection with the fuelsubsidy scam.

His level of involvement in the scam could not be ascertained as of press time.

But our correspondent gathered that he was interrogated by the operatives of the commission and allowed to go home.

Confirming the arrest, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said, “It is true he was arrested. But he has been allowed to go home.”

Asked when he was expected back at the commission, Uwujaren said, “That will be communicated to him, but for now he is no longer with us.”

About 40 persons and companies are facing trial over the fuel subsidy scam.

Meanwhile, the Code of Conduct Tribunal, sitting  in Abuja, on Tuesdaystayed proceedings in the trial of the Director-General of the National Centre for Technology Management Dr. Willie Siyanbola.

Siyanbola, who is facing a one count of abuse of office, allegedly recruited over 60 percent of the staff of the organisation from a particular section of the country.

When the matter came up on Tuesday, Sinyabola’s counsel, Mr. Adamson Adeboro, moved the application for stay of proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal challenging the decision of the tribunal to assume jurisdiction.

Adeboro, in the notice of appeal filed at the Abuja Division of the Court ofAppeal, held that the tribunal erred in law by assuming jurisdiction to hear the matter.

The prosecution counsel, Abbas Ibrahim, did not oppose the application.

The CCT Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, who presided over the three-man appeal panel, granted the application as prayed and stayed proceedingspending the outcome of the appeal.

He adjourned hearing in the matter till June 30.

Siyanbola was accused of employing over 60 per cent  of the organisation’s staff from the South-West, where he comes from, in contravention of theCode of Conduct and Tribunal Act. 1998.