Lagos contractor in court over N6M missing Kerosene

A defendant, Mr. Isaac Bassey, had mentioned to Magistrate S.K Matepo of Samuel Illori Courthouse in Ogba, Lagos State that he isn’t among the Lagos contractor that led to the disappearance of 33,000 liters of kerosene in the state.

Mr. Isaac, alongside one Mr. Peter are currently on trial for allegedly stealing 33,000 liters of kerosene. These liters of kerosene are worth N6m. They are also accused of disposing of the delivery truck.

This Lagos contractor, Isaac was led in evidence by the defense counsel, U.E. Udo, told the court that he wasn’t part of the matter.

He mentioned that one Ndubuisi contacted him for a delivery truck that could transport 33,000 liters of kerosene, but he couldn’t provide it.

He said, “He sent one Morris to come meet me. That day I was sitting with Mr. Peter (co-defendant). I told Morris that I didn’t have what Ndubusi asked for. Mr. Peter said he had a truck of 33, 000 liters.”

Mr. Bassey said that his involvement however ended when Mr. Peter called the owner of the truck that handed the truck to Ndubusi. Adding that Ndubusi and his escorts loaded kerosene to the container and left.

Noting that two days later, Ndubusi called him to complain that the driver couldn’t be reached.

Also noting that he received the same complaint the following Monday.

The witness said the union officers and the police were informed when the truck and the 33,000 litres of kerosene got missing.

Bassey said the police remanded him and Peter on Monday and asked Ndubuisi to come on Tuesday, but he did not show up until Friday.

“The owner of the kerosene told the police to lock up Ndubuisi because he was the one that diverted the product. The DPO said he was going to lock him up that Friday because he also had not shown up since Monday.

“But Ndubuisi called SARS operatives. They came that Friday evening and took us to their base in Ikeja, where I and Peter were remanded for two weeks,” Bassey added.

He said he was not part of the contract, adding that Ndubuisi falsified the loading and delivery documents.