The Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission on Monday May 27, 2013 arraigned one John Nwachukwu before
Justice S. M Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo State on
3-count charge of pipeline vandalism and illegal dealing in petroleum
products.
Nwachukwu was
arrested on November 7, 2011 by soldiers of the 34 Brigade Garrison, Owerri,
who were on internal security duties at Okpuoma Village in Ohaji/Egbema Local
Government Area of Imo State. He was arrested with over 22,000 liters of
bunkered fuel in seven surface tanks. A Volvo car with Registration Number: Imo
AA 08 EHM, with some jerry cans filled with bunkered fuel in his custody was
impounded.
The case was transferred
to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution. When the charge was
read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty. One of the counts reads:
“that you John Nwachukwu on or about the 7th day of November
2011 at Okuoma Village,Ohaji/Egbema,Imo State, within the jurisdiction of the
Federal High Court of Nigeria, Owerri commit felony to wit; dealing without
appropriate licence in petroleum products(22,000 litres of Automotive Gas oil
also known as AGO) and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3(b)
(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, CAP
M17,2004 and punishable under section 1(17) (b) of the same Act”.
The accused was remanded
in prison custody and the case adjourned till June 11, 2013 for hearing of the
bail application.
Wilson Uwujaren
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
28th May, 2013
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