EFCC Arraigns Five Over Illegal Storage Of Diesel

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 arraigned five suspects before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on a four count charge bordering on conspiracy to store one hundred and eighty five( 185) Metric Tons of automotive gas oil, (also called diesel) without appropriate license. The suspects: Captain Odeghe Andrew, Engineer Ebinum Alex, Jelili Lateef (still at large), Sunday Buluku (still at large) and Monday Osasuwa (still at large) were arraigned before Justice James Tsoho.

One of the counts reads: “That you captain Odeghe Andrew, Engineer Ebinum Alex, Jelili Lateef, Sunday Bukulu, Monday Osasuwa, on or about 31st May, 2012 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, being the Master-in- Command and crew of the vessel MT. Floris conspired to store aboard the said vessel One Hundred and Eighty Five (185) Metric Tons of automotive gas oil without appropriate license under section 1 of the Petroleum Act, Cap. P9 Laws of the federation of Nigeria , 2004 and thereby committed an offences punishable under section 6 of the Petroleum Act, Cap. P9,Laws of the federation of Nigeria , 2004”.

When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

Prosecution counsel, Ben Ubi, informed the court that the EFCC was ready to proceed to trial.

However, defence counsel, Victor Opare, informed the court that he had filed an application for bail and prayed the court to hear the application. The judge obliged.

He argued that the offence for which his clients were docked is bailable and urged the court to consider the plight of one of the accused persons, Captain Odeghe Andrew who has some health issues, in granting them bail.

This claim of ill health was contested by Ubi who demanded proofs from the defence.

Justice Tsoho, after listening to their arguments, admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of two million naira and one surety in like sum.

The surety must be a resident of Lagos and have a property in the metropolis.

He must also be ready to provide original documents of the property and the title verified by the EFCC.

In addition, the surety must provide evidence of three year tax payments.

Justice Tsoho adjourned the case to 22 January 2013.