Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned three persons, before Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on two count charges bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products without appropriate licence.
The suspects, Enemo Okoria, Ebhofage Brown and Francis Dapagamo, were arraigned along with a tugboat DP28 and a firm, Diesel Power Nigeria Limited.
According to EFCC, the susupects were arrested along Onne waterways on April 20, 2018 by operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder while transshipping 261,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO, from the tugboat into a vessel, MV Nazarene, without requisite license or authority to deal in petroleum products.
They all pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when read to them.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, J.N Dogonyaro, prayed the court for a date to commence trial, while counsel to the Ist defendants, Dionu Nnah; Peace Anucha; for the 2nd defendant, Peace Anucha; for third defendant, G.C. Egule; and for the 4th and 5th defendants, B.O Koko, informed the court of bail applications already filed on behalf of their clients.
The Judge, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to May 18, 2021 for hearing of bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre.