Nine arraigned for dealing in illegal petroleum

Nine men were yesterday arraigned at a Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt for offences bordering on illegally dealing in petroleum products.

The suspects, Clement Oguntuwase, Joseph Obie, Ifeoluwa Albert, Adams Amzat Akokhia, Isaac Ndidi Chima, Rafiu Momodu, Rasaq Mahmud, Godwin George, and Thomas Daniel were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), before Justice Lambo Akanbi on a 2-count charge of conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products.

According to the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, the accused persons were intercepted aboard MB SKYE by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield on November 14, 2014 in Brass waters, close to Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Bayelsa State while transferring suspected crude oil from two vessels, MT CERGEN-D and MT ELIMINA, which were under investigation for alleged oil theft.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

One of the counts read; “that you Clement Oguntuwase , Joseph Obie , Ifeoluwa Albert, Adams Amzat Akokhia, Isaac Ndidi Chima, Rafiu Momodu, Rasaq Mahmud, Godwin  George, Thomas Daniel and a vessel, MB Skye and others now at large on or about the 13^th and 14^th November, 2014 at Brass within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did without appropriate licence deal in Petroleum Products to wit: about 388.53 Metric tonnes of Crude Oil siphoned from two vessels namely; MT CERGEN-D and MT ELIMINA which you conveyed in MB SKYE and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(17) (a) and (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Law of the Federation) Act 2007 and punishable under the same Act”.

In view of their plea, the prosecuting counsel A.I Arogha asked for a date for the commencement of trial. But the defence counsel, A.A Adetunji orally presented a bail application and urged the court to grant the accused persons bail.

Justice Akanbi granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500, 000.00, each and a surety in like sum, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

The matter was adjourned till March 11, 2015 for commencement of trial.