The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on Friday, June 26, 2020, arraigned nine suspected illegal oil dealers and a vessel, MT OMUS, before Justice Maureen Oyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The defendants- Anoruo Joseph; James Miracle; Louis Gbezeh; Tochukwu Nnagora; Nelson Umah; Sunday Ademoyege; Shittu Joseph, Afotan Ayene
and Lukman Agberongbe- were arrested aboard a vessel, MT Omus, by officers of the Nigerian Navy and subsequently handed over to the EFCC for investigation and prosecution.
One of the counts read: “ That you, James Miracle, sometime in February 2020, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without appropriate license, dealt in 800 metric tonnes of petroleum product and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Another charge read: “ that you, Shittu Joseph and MT OMUS, on the 13th of February 2020, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without appropriate license, attempted to export 800 metric tonnes of petroleum products and thereby committed an
offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(19) and punishable under Section 1(17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The defendants, who were arraigned separately, pleaded not guilty to the charges
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, U.U. Buhari and K.E. Uduak, prayed the court for trial dates.