By Chizoba Ogbeche
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, arraigned six suspected oil thieves; Adelaja David, Adedara Temitope, Bayo Edema, Alowakenu Mathew, Ojga Aghedo, Dauda Usman, alongside their vessel, MT CERGEN D, before Justice Iyang E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
A statement by EFCC’s Head, Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, stated that they were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum product. They suspects, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the statement, the accused were arrested sometime in March, 2014, by men of the Central Naval Command, Nigerian Navy, Yenagoa, alongside their vessel, loaded with 2,356,000 litres of suspected crude oil and were handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.
He said they conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit; dealing in petroleum product without appropriate authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17 of the revised edition (laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1(17) of the same Act.
The accused persons were granted bail in the sum of N1, 000,000 and one surety each in like sum, even as the surety were expected to be resident and own a landed property within the Jurisdiction of the court.
The court also ordered that the accused persons should not leave the Jurisdiction without the permission of the court, just as the matter was adjourned to October 8, 9 and 10, 2014, for commencement of trial.
