Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced one Mohammed Sambo to two years imprisonment for illegally conveying 45,000 litres of Automotive Gasoline Oil without an appropriate licence.
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Justice P.M. Ayuba sentenced the suspect on Tuesday after he pleaded “guilty” to one-count charge preferred against him, upon being arraigned by the Port Harcourt’s Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Sambo started his journey to the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre when he was arrested by men and officers of Six Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, during an anti- illegal bunkering raid in October 2021.
He was handed over by the Nigerian Army to the EFCC who charged him to court and secured his conviction.
The one count charge reads: “That you Mohammed Sambo on 15th day of October, 2021 at Borikiri, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this court without lawful authority dealt in 45,000litres of AGO contained in a Red Head Howo Tanker Truck with Plate number Borno KDG381XA and another with registration number Nasarawa FGE 382 ZH and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 1 (17) (b) of the same Act.”
The suspect pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, S. M. H. Ibekwute, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
Counsel to the defendant, E. G. Omeje prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, stressing that he was a first- time offender with no previous criminal records.
Justice P.M. Ayuba convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N1mllioion payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Judge also ordered that the 45,000 litres of AGO onboard the truck with registration number Borno KDG 381 XA and another with registration number Nasarawa FGE 382 ZH be forfeited to the government.
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