By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Nine suspected illegal oil dealers and a vessel, MT OMUS, have been remanded following their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Maureen Oyetenu of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria.
The court fixed July 13, 2020 for commencement of their trial.
The defendants/suspects are Anoruo Joseph; James Miracle; Louis Gbezeh; Tochukwu Nnagora; Nelson Umah; Sunday Ademoyege; Shittu Joseph, Afotan Ayene and Lukman Agberongbe.
They were 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 the counts reads: “That you, James Miracle, sometime in February 2020, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without appropriate license, dealt in 800 metric tonnes of petroleum product and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Another charge reads: “That you, Shittu Joseph and MT OMUS, on the 13th day of February 2020, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without appropriate license, attempted to export 800 metric tonnes of petroleum products and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(19) and Section 1(17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The defendants, who were arraigned separately, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, U.U. Buhari and K.E. Uduak, applied the court for trial dates.
However, counsel to the defendants, Ukadike Ikechukwu, informed the court of pending bail applications for his clients, and also urged the court to grant them bail in the most liberal terms.
Consequently, Justice Oyetenu granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum.
The judge ruled that each of the sureties must be a civil servant who must not be below Grade Level 14.
The Judge further ruled that the sureties must each have a verifiable address within the jurisdiction as well as a three-year tax clearance, which will be verified by the court officials.
The defendants are to remain in the EFCC custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions, otherwise they would be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Justice Oyetenu adjourned the matters to July 13, 2020 for trial.
