EFCC Arraigns Vessel, Eight Suspected Illegal Oil Dealers in Lagos

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, on Monday, July 20, 2020 arraigned nine suspected Illegal oil dealers and a Vessel, M. V. Laida, before Justice Muslim S. Hassan of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on three-count charges bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in  351 metric tonnes of Automative Gas Oil, (AGO ).

The defendants: Stephen John  Degbe;  Bode  Shofela;  Emmanuel Esalet;  Aderibigbe Jeje;  Peter  Atijere  Ekpe;  Dayang Nantok  Ibrahim;  Adewunmi Oguntifa, Samuel Alabi  were arrested alongside the vessel by the Nigeria Navy and subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.

One of the counts read: “That MV. Laida,  Stephen John  Degbe, Bode  Shofela, Emmanuel Esalet, Aderibigbe Jeje, Peter  Atijere  Ekpe, Dayang Nantok  Ibrahim,  Adewunmi Oguntifa, Samuel Alabi on the 30th December 2019, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, without appropriate licence attempted to export 351 metric tonnes of petroleum products and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(17) of the miscellaneous offense Act, CAP M17, Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

They pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges preferred against them.

In view of their pleas, prosecuting counsel, Barrister Ebuka, prayed the court for a trial date and also asked that the defendants be remanded in Nigeria Correctional Service, NCS.

Consequently,  the defence counsel,  W. Amao  Olasunkami  Wasiu prayed the court to grant the defendants bail on most liberal terms.

However,  Justice M.S. Hassan granted the prayers of  the defence counsel and granted all the defendants bail in the sum of  N10million each, with a surety in like sum.  The surety must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. 

The judge ordered the defendants to be  remanded in prison custody, until their bail conditions are met and adjourned the matter till  October 20, 2020, for  continuation of trial.