Police Inspector, 2 Others Arraigned For Oil Bunkering
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, arraigned an Inspector of Police, Lukeman Rabiu, and two other persons before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly tampering with oil pipeline.
Rabiu, of the Lagos Police Command X-Squad Unit was arraigned before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo alongside Bashorun Sunny Eke, Waliu Tella a tanker driver, and Bashorun Eke’s hotel, Glonik Hotel Limited on a four-count charge of conspiracy and oil pipeline vandalism.
The EFCC in an amended charge marked FHC /L/403c/17, alleged that the three accused persons had on October 4, 2017, at 31, Social Club road, Oko Oba, Lagos, conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit: maliciously tampered with the pipeline.
The hotelier, Bashorun Sunny Eke, was alleged to have used his hotel, Glonik Hotel Limited, situated at 31, Social Club road, Oko-Oba, Lagos, to tamper with the oil pipeline.
The offences according to the EFCC prosecutor, Murtala Usman, are contrary to sections 3 (6), 1 (7)(a) and (b) and punishable under sections 1(7)(a) and (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. Cap. M17, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Usman further maintained that the offence is contrary to, and punishable under section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After their pleas were taken, their lawyers who include, Jude Ehide, Ayodele Olaniyi and Frank Eke, urged the court to grant their clients bail in the most liberal terms.
The prosecutor, Mr. Usman, told the court that his commission did not file any counter to the first accused person’s bail application. He however said that he has replied to the applications of the second and third accused persons.
Ruling on the bail applications, Justice Oguntoyinbo admitted the first accused, Bashorun Eke, to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in the sum of N1 million each. The second and third accused were also admitted to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in the sum of N1 million each.
The judge also ordered that the accused persons deposit their international passports with the Court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR), and that each of the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means, and have their bank details, phone numbers and home and office addresses verified by the prosecutor.
Justice Oguntoyinbo also ordered that the sureties must show to the court, evidence of three years’ tax payment.
The accused persons were ordered to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail terms.
He thereafter adjourned the matter till January 10 and 18 for trial.
