By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Five defendants including a vessel were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Liman of a Federal High court Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged illegal deal in petroleum products.
The defendants are: MV Tim Begele, Ukwuoma Ahamefula, Nelson Omeogor, Evans Efemuaya, and Jude Eghreriniovo.
They were docked on three counts of conspiracy, unlawful deal and attempt to unlawfully export petroleum products .
The charge marked FHC/L/60C/2020 is signed by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After their pleas, defence counsel, Peter Atabor, informed the court that he had just seen the charge and would file the necessary bail applications.
The court consequently, adjourned the case until April 1 and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the correctional Service pending bail.
According to the charge, the defendants were said to have committed the offences on December 3, 2019.
They were said to have conspired to deal in about 3,911 metric tonnes of petroleum products without appropriate licence.
EFCC also alleged that the defendants had attempted to export the tonnes of petroleum, before they were apprehended.
According to the charge, the offences contravens the provisions of Sections 1, 1(17) , and 1(19) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation 2004.
