Find the EFCC Press statement below
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today at a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State arraigned nine persons for offences bordering on illegally dealing in petroleum products. Clement Oguntuwase, Joseph Obie, Ifeoluwa Albert, Adams Amzat Akokhia, Isaac Ndidi Chima, Rafiu Momodu, Rasaq Mahmud, Godwin George, and Thomas Daniel were arraigned before Justice Lambo Akanbi on a 2-count charge of conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products.
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
youClement Oguntuwase , Joseph Obie , Ifeoluwa Albert, Adams Amzat
Akokhia, IsaacNdidi Chima, Rafiu Momodu, Rasaq Mahmud, Godwin George,
Thomas Daniel anda vessel, MB Skye and others now at large on or about
the 13th and 14th 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 five Hundred Thousand Naira (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.
