Crime

See Reasons Dubai Court Sentences Nigerian Billionaire to Prison

Published by Tope Fakinlede on February 9th, 2025.

See Reasons Dubai Court Sentences Nigerian Billionaire to Prison

A Dubai court has sentenced Abdulrahman Bashar, the owner of Rahmaniya Group and Ultimate Oil & Gas, to one year in prison for financial misconduct related to his dealings with CI Energy Company, an oil and gas firm.

This marks the second time in less than five years that Bashar has faced jail time. His first conviction occurred in 2020 when a UK court sentenced him to ten months in prison.

The ruling, issued on January 30, 2025, came despite Bashar’s absence from the trial, even though he had been notified of the proceedings.

Court records obtained by PREMIUM TIMES reveal that the UAE public prosecution charged Bashar for issuing seven cheques totaling 126.45 million dirhams, drawn from an Emirates Islamic Bank account, with discrepancies in his signature.

The prosecution accused the Nigerian billionaire of deliberately signing the cheques in a manner that would prevent them from being cashed, and sought punishment under the relevant laws.

Based on evidence, including statements from Jamal Awad Nasser Hussein, a CI Energy representative, copies of the cheques, and account statements, the court determined that the cheques had been returned unpaid because of the signature mismatch.

The court explained, “Issuing a cheque with the knowledge that there are insufficient funds for withdrawal constitutes the crime,” and found Bashar guilty of the offense.

The court also noted that Bashar’s defense attempted to discredit the evidence, arguing that his denial was aimed at avoiding punishment. To expedite justice, the court referred the civil case for compensation to a relevant civil court for further investigation.

A History of Legal Issues for Bashar

In 2020, Bashar faced legal consequences in the UK, where he was sentenced to ten months in prison for violating multiple court orders. Justice Butcher of the England and Wales High Court ruled that Bashar had failed to comply with an order to supply 6,400.49 metric tonnes of gas to Sahara Energy Resources, despite an agreement to do so.

The court noted that Bashar had neglected to ensure the release of the gas from Rahmaniya Oil and Gas’ terminal, violating the order issued by Justice Robin Knowles and Justice Bryan.

As part of the case, Rahmaniya Oil and Gas was fined £500,000, and Adebowale Aderemi, the company’s manager, was penalized with a £10,000 fine. The court indicated that if Bashar adhered to the previous orders, his sentence could be reduced to six months.

About Abdulrahman Bashar

Abdulrahman Bashar is the chair of Ultimate Oil and Gas DMCC and the managing director and CEO of Rahmaniya Group of Companies in Nigeria. His business ventures are focused on the trading, supplying, and distribution of African crude oil and petroleum products, which have contributed to his substantial wealth.

According to his company’s website, Bashar oversees a diversified conglomerate with operations across Africa, Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East, utilizing his vast experience in the oil and gas industry, as well as in petroleum distribution and logistics.