Court Jails 11 Oil Bunkerers 12 Years
A Federal High Court, Lagos, Monday, convicted a vessel, MV Peace alongside its 11 crew, for conspiracy and unlawful dealing in 200 metric tons of petroleum product.
The convicts are: Captain James Abatan, Wasiu Abdul Owonikoko, Patrick Ameh, Johnson Ademola, Felix Otto, Chigozie Oguike, Olu Salisu, Jomo Gadagbe, Kunle Oba Saheed and Rasheed Adio.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned the crew members on board a vessel, MV Peace over alleged massive involvement in oil bunkering to the tune of 200 metric tons of petroleum product.
Others arraigned along with the Captain are Wasiu Abdul Owonikoko, Patrick Ameh, Johson Ademola, Felix Otto, Chigozie Oguike, Olu Salisu, Jomo Gadagbe, Kunle Oba Saheed and Rasheed Adio.
All this convicts were sentenced to five years on count one and two, and two years on count three.
The judge however ordered that the the jail term be run concurrently.
The vessel and the convicts were first arraigned before the court on July 27, 2017, on the three count charge of conspiracy and unlawful dealing in 200 tonnes of petroleum product and storing same.
The offences according to the prosecution led by Rotimi Oyedepo are contrary to and punishable under Section 3 (1) (6) (17); (1) (1) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, and Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap P10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
During the trial of the matter, the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered several exhibits which were admitted by the court.
In convicting and sentencing the convicts on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Idris said; “the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered exhibits A-H. I hold that the prosecution has been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“The prosecution have been able to led overwhelming evidence against the defendants. The defendants have not been able to adduce evidence capable of puncturing the evidence forward by the prosecution. I therefore find all the defendants guilty as charge”.
In his allucutor, lawyer to the convicts, Dada Awosika, described the convicts as ‘victims of circumstances’, and pleaded with the court, to give them suspended sentence, saying that they only acted on the instruction of the vessel’s owner.
“The convicts are just victims of circumstances, having taking order from the owner of the vessel. They only acted on the instruction of the vessel owner. They are mechanics, stewards, generator repairers. None of them gave evidence of having interest in the product.
“We concede to the maximum punishment prescribed by the law in respect of the vessel. But in respect of the defendants, I urged the court to tamper justice with mercy. They do not any previous record of conviction. They are artisans with lower rank. I pleaded with the court to give them suspended sentence.
“I urged the court to give them another chance”.
But responding, the prosecutor, Oyedepo, urged the court not to be persuaded with the convicts’ lawyer plea, saying that granting such request will encourage other to involve in such crime.
Sentencing the convicts, Justice Idris said: ” I have listened to the plea of allucutor, there is no doubt that they (convicts) are first time offenders. It should be noted that this crime is rampant and it almost cripple the economy survival of the country.
“In this view, I hereby sentence the convicts to five years on count one of conspiracy, five years on count two of dealing in petroleum product without appropriate licence, and two years on count three.
“The jail terms are to run concurrently”.
During the convicts’ trial, EFCC had told the court that the convict had on or about April 4, 2015 conspired amongst themselves to commit the crime by dealing in petroleum product without appropriate licence.
And upon their arrest by the Nigerian Navy, they were handed over to the EFCC on June 16, 2015, on the allegation that they were dealing in petroleum product without requisite license.
He added that samples of the cargo on board the vessel was then taken and analysed by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), and that the result confirmed that the product conformed to Automated Gas Oil (AGO), and that the accused were unable to produce genuine license from the DPR authorising them to deal in the product found on board the vessel.
The EFCC had told the court that the vessel was owned by a company called D Dove Oil and Maritime Services Limited with its registered address situate at Plot 2, Lateef Jakande Road, Agindingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, said that upon further enquiry the company and its directing minds have since surreptitiously relocated to an unknown destination, and that same was to the bewilderment of the Commission.
