by Isi Esene

In a curious twist to the fuel subsidy saga, the EFCC yesterday dropped the suit filed against four of the fuel subsidy suspects saying the charges against them at the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere were “misconstrued and filed by mistake”.

The suspects who were let off the hook are Peter Mba, Durosola Omogbenigun, Pinnacle Oil and Gas, and Integrated Resources Limited.

According to the Premium Times, Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, said he was directed by the attorney general of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, to withdraw the case after conducting a careful review of the charges against them.

The presiding Judge, Samuel Candide-Johnson, struck out the charges after considering the EFCC application for withdrawal.

“The charges preferred against the defendants in this case were misconstrued by the prosecution and were inadvertently filed against the said defendants.

“A review of the prosecution’s case and the evidence available to the prosecution clearly show that the defendants did not commit the offenses for which they are charged.

“Withdrawing the charge against the defendants will meet the interest of justice in the case,” Mr. Oyedepo added.

The four suspects were among the many earlier accused to have obtained billions of naira from the Federal Government of Nigeria by false pretense; they were charged with receiving over N2bn after claiming to have imported about 32mn litres of petroleum products from Europe.

In recent weeks, names were releases of companies and individuals purportedly associated with the mismanagement of fuel subsidy funds and speculations are rife that the anti-graft agency is under immense pressure to loosen the noose on the necks of some of these highly connected business personalities.

And the EFCC continues to impress us.