The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned six persons before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged oil bunkering.
Musa Mohammed, Otuagoma Freeborn, James Onubi, Hassan Adekunle, Gabriel Inyang and Patrick Chinedu appeared before Justice Okechukwu Okeke over illegal possession of petroleum products.
They were allegedly arrested with 942.2 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) without an appropriate licence as required under the Petroleum Act.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned six persons before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged oil bunkering.
Musa Mohammed, Otuagoma Freeborn, James Onubi, Hassan Adekunle, Gabriel Inyang and Patrick Chinedu appeared before Justice Okechukwu Okeke over illegal possession of petroleum products.
They were allegedly arrested with 942.2 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) without an appropriate licence as required under the Petroleum Act.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty.
Okeke remanded them in prison custody, and adjourned the case till Oct. 11 for mention.
The prosecutor, Mr Ben Obi, had earlier said that the defendants committed the offence on Jan. 26.
He said that they were arrested aboard a vessel by the Nigerian Navy patrol team within Nigeria's territorial waters.
The prosecutor said that the defendants could not give reasonable explanation on the source of the diesel and failed to present any clearance letter from the Navy.
Obi told the court that the defendants’ vessel was also detained, adding that the offence contravened Section 47 of the petroleum act.
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