EFCC Arraigns Unlawful Oil Sellers in Lagos
The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee, EFCC, Lagos Zonal workplace, on Friday, June 26, 2020, arraigned 9 suspected unlawful oil sellers and a vessel, MT OMUS, earlier than Justice Maureen Oyetenu of the Federal Excessive Courtroom sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The defendants- Anoruo Joseph; James Miracle; Louis Gbezeh; Tochukwu Nnagora; Nelson Umah; Sunday Ademoyege; Shittu Joseph, Afotan Ayene and Lukman Agberongbe- had been arrested aboard a vessel, MT Omus, by officers of the Nigerian Navy and subsequently handed over to the EFCC for investigation and prosecution.
One of many counts learn: “ That you just, James Miracle, someday in February 2020, throughout the jurisdiction of this honourable court docket, with out applicable license, dealt in 800 metric tonnes of petroleum product and thereby dedicated an offence opposite to and punishable underneath Part 1(17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Legal guidelines of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
One other cost learn: “ that you simply, Shittu Joseph and MT OMUS, on the 13th of February 2020, throughout the jurisdiction of this honourable court docket, with out applicable license, tried to export 800 metric tonnes of petroleum merchandise and thereby dedicated an
offence opposite to and punishable underneath Part 1(19) and punishable underneath Part 1(17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Legal guidelines of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The defendants, who had been arraigned individually, pleaded not responsible to the fees
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, U.U. Buhari and Okay.E. Uduak, prayed the court docket for trial dates.
Counsel to the defendants, Ukadike Ikechukwu, knowledgeable the court docket of pending bail purposes for his shoppers, and likewise urged the court docket to grant them bail in probably the most liberal phrases.
Consequently, Justice Oyetenu granted every of the defendants bail within the sum of N10, 000, 000. 00 (Ten Million Naira solely ) with one surety in like sum.
The sureties every should be a civil servant who should not be beneath Grade Degree 14. The Choose additionally held that the sureties should every have a verifiable tackle throughout the jurisdiction in addition to a three-year tax clearance, which can be verified by the court docket officers.
The defendants are to stay within the EFCC custody pending when they’re remanded within the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS.
Justice Oyetenu adjourned the issues to July 13, 2020 for listening to.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
28/06/2020
Supply: prnigeria.com
