EFCC Press
Release
EFCC Arraigns Six Suspected Oil Thieves
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC Tuesday June 24, 2014 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 on a two-count charge
bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum product. They pleaded not
guilty to the charges.
The accused were arrested sometime
in Mach, 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.
Count one of the charge reads; “that
Adelaja David, Adedara Temitope, Bayo Edema, Alowakenu Mathew, Ojga Aghedo,
Dauda Usman, Otasowie Harrison Nosa (now at large) being crew members on board
MT CERGEN D on or about the 18th day March, 2014 at Fish Town, Sengana
Community, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, within the
jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire among 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”.
In view of their plea, the prosecution
counsel J.N. Dogonyaro asked the court for a date to commence trial but the
defence counsel, D.O. Ejinyere presented a formal bail application.
Justice Ekwo granted the accused persons
bail in the sum of N1, 000,000 (One Million Naira) and one surety each in like
sum. The surety must be resident and own a landed property within the
Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court. The court also ordered that the accused
persons should not leave the Jurisdiction without the permission of the court.
The matter was adjourned to October 8, 9
and 10, 2014 for commencement of trial.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media &
Publicity
25th June,
2014
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