EFCC Press Release
The Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, today February 25, 2015 arraigned
Abu Sunday Smith, Albert Azasu, Lawal Abdul Akinola, Simeon Inatemi John,
Sunday Essien, John Fregene, and a vessel, MT RAGINA before
Justice Abubakar Shitu of the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta State on a 2-count
charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum Product.
The vessel
and its crew members were arrested sometime in December, 2014 by officers of
the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo
Shield, at Forcados loaded with 300 metric tons of substance suspected to
be crude oil. They are alleged to have been involved in siphoning crude oil
from an abandoned oil well at Sokobolo community, Warri South Local Government
Area of Delta State.
Count one of the charge
reads, “that you Abu Sunday Smith being the Captain and crew members
of MT RAGINA( Alias MT PAPALOLO and MT PROGRESS), Albert Azasu, Lawal
Abdul Akinola, Simeon Inatemi John, Sunday Essien and John Fregene, on or about
the 16th day of December, 2014 around ashore Forcados sea, Warri,
Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did conspire among
yourselves and others at large 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 Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition
(Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (17) of
the same Act”.
They pleaded
not guilty to charges.
Justice
Abubakar adjourned the matter till March 4, for hearing of bail application,
and April 29, 2015 for trial. He ordered that the accused persons be remanded
in prison custody.
Wilson
Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
25th February, 2015
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