EFCC arraigns Ship crew over illegal oil deal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has detained a ship, MT Vine, along with its six-man crew on the grounds of dealing in 1,080 metric tonnes of Automated Gas Oil outside lawful permission.

The crew members, arrested together with the ship -Sarumi Evan, Okpene Peter,  Onipede Kayode, Adams Akeem, Lateef Akin and Obodo Cosmos-, were arraigned on a four count charge before Justice Rilwan Aikawa.

The crew members were accused by the EFCC of collectively conniving to lift and dispense 1,080 metric tonnes of AGO without the required licence to do such.

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The prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo,disclosed in court that the offence was committed by the defendants on 12th June, 2017.

He also stated that the accused acted in contravention of and were liable to be punished under sections 17 and 19(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Oyedepo sated that the defendants breached Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap P10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty, after being read the charges levelled against them.

The case was adjourned till 6th October as well as the ruling on their bail application, while the Justice Aikawa ordered the accused to be remanded in the EFCC’s custoding pending the next hearing.