The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the quartet of Felix Nwosu, Sadau Isa, Aliyu Hamza Hassan and Usman Nuhu on a four count charge of conspiracy, illegal dealing and refining of petroleum products, before Justice E. S. Chukwu of the Federal High Court Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The suspects, who were denied bail by the judge, were alleged to be illegal operators of refineries which have a capacity of 33,000 litres located at Ohaobu-Ndoki village in Ukanagu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the quartet of Felix Nwosu, Sadau Isa, Aliyu Hamza Hassan and Usman Nuhu on a four count charge of conspiracy, illegal dealing and refining of petroleum products, before Justice E. S. Chukwu of the Federal High Court Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The suspects, who were denied bail by the judge, were alleged to be illegal operators of refineries which have a capacity of 33,000 litres located at Ohaobu-Ndoki village in Ukanagu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state.
When the charges were read to the suspects, they pleaded not guilty to the charges necessitating the defence Counsel, B.B. Mfon, to apply for their bail. But the Judge turned down the bail application, on the grounds that he intended to conclude the case as quickly as possible. He therefore adjourned the proceedings to April 27th, 2012 for continuation of trial, and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.
It would be recalled that officers of the State Security Service, SSS, arrested the accused persons on March 2nd, 2012, at Ukanagu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, along with three others: Sunday Udedike, Yusuf Lawal and Abdullahi Haruna, who are presently at large.
At the time of their arrest, a 33,000 litres capacity Iveco Turbo Star Truck loaded with automotive gas oil, 33,000 litres capacity DAF 85CA Truck loaded with crude oil, two pumping machines, two barges, three speed boat engines and the illegal refinery of an estimated 33,000 litres capacity and operational installations which had been operational for the last twelve months.
The illegal refinery is located close to a waterway through which illicit crude oil from barges can be easily siphoned into storage tanks for refining.
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