Photos: EFCC Arraigns 10 Persons for Illegal Oil Bunkering

EFCC Press statement below...
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, has arraigned 10 persons and a vessel, MV
Peace for their alleged involvement in illegal oil
bunkering before Justice Muhammad B. Idris of
the Federal High Court, Lagos on a three count
charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal
dealing in petroleum products.
MV Peace and its crew members - James Abatan,
Wasiu Abdul Owonikoko, Patrick Ameh, Johnson
Ademola, Felix Otto, Chigozie Oguike, Olu Salisu,
Jomo Gadagbe, Kunle Oba Saheed and Rasheed
Adio were intercepted about five nautical miles
off Lagos Fairway Buoy by the Nigerian Navy
Ship Ikot-Abasi on the 4th of April 2015 on
suspicion of illegal dealing in petroleum
products.
Count one and two of the charge reads:
Count 1:
“MV Peace, James Abatan, Wasiu Abdul
Owonikoko, Patrick Amen, Johnson Ademola, Felix
Otto, Chigozie Oguike, Olu Salisu, Jomo Gadagbe,
Kunle Oba Saheed and Rasheed Adio on or about
the 4th day of April, 2015 in Lagos within the
jurisdiction of the Federal High Court conspired
amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit:
dealing in petroleum products without
appropriate licence and thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 3 (6) of the
Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under
Section (1) (17) of the same Act.”
Count 2:
“MV Peace, James Abatan, Wasiu Abdul
Owonikoko, Patrick Amen, Johnson Ademola, Felix
Otto, Chigozie Oguike, Olu Salisu, Jomo Gadagbe,
Kunle Oba Saheed and Rasheed Adio on or about
the 4th day of April, 2015 in Lagos within the
jurisdiction of the Federal High Court without
appropriate licence dealt with 200 Metric Tons of
Petroleum product and thereby committed an
offence punishable under Section (1) (17) of the
Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Law of the
Federation of Nigeria 2004.” The accused persons
pleaded not guilty to the charge when read to
them. In view of the plea of the accused, the
prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo prayed the
court for a trial date and to remand the accused
in prison custody. However, counsel to all
accused persons, Dada Awosika said he had filed
an application for bail and prayed the court for a
short adjournment for hearing. Justice Idris
ordered that the accused persons be remanded in
Ikoyi prison and adjourned the case to Monday 27
July, 2015 for hearing on the bail application.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity 23rd July, 2015