EFCC docks 12 for ‘illegally’ dealing in Diesel

Twelve persons, a vessel, MT Mother Comfort, and a firm, Azamosa Limited, were Thursday docked before the Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly dealing in 240 metric tonnes of Automative Gas Oil (diesel) without appropriate licence. The defendants were arraigned on three counts before Justice Muslim Hassan. Besides the vessel and the firm, the other […]

Twelve persons, a vessel, MT Mother Comfort, and a firm, Azamosa Limited, were Thursday docked before the Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly dealing in 240 metric tonnes of Automative Gas Oil (diesel) without appropriate licence.

The defendants were arraigned on three counts before Justice Muslim Hassan.

Besides the vessel and the firm, the other defendants are Ojajuni Adebowale, Dele Napoleon, Aderemi Akinade, Stephen Ogunboye, Ekene Okendu, Agbanoma John, Azu Okengwu, Alum Julius, Awah Ucheojo, Femi James, Odenike Rasaq and Neele Keerebari.

The EFCC told the court that they committed the crime on July 24, 2020, in Lagos.

The EFCC counsel, Mohammed Idris, said the defendants acted contrary to Sections 3(3) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and were liable to punishment under Section 1(17) of the same act.

Idris said the defendants also violated Section 4 of the Petroleum Act Cap P10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following an application by their lawyer, Sola Obaribirin, Justice Hassan, admitted them to N10m bail each with one surety each in like sum but ordered that they should be remanded pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions and adjourned to February 4 and 5, 2021.