Justice I.M Sani of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced seven fraudsters and four vessels to various jail terms for illegal dealing in petroleum products. Two other fraudsters were also convicted and sentenced to jail terms by Justice H.I. O Oshomah of the same court.
The convicts, who were sentenced separately at different dates include Promise Ibeh; Franklin Chukwu; John Amadi; Chetachi Chinedu; Austin Akobundu; Ogochukwu Opiah; Gladstone Amabebe, Abdulganiyu Hashimu andMohammed Onawo. Four vessels: M.V Prophet Elijah (a.k.a. M.V Nicolas Marine); M.V. Aye, M.V Kome XVIII and M.V. Lady Virtue were also convicted.
The convicts were all arraigned on different days by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Port Harcourt Zonal Office, on one count separate charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products contrary to Section 4 (1) of the Petroleum Act, CAP P10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, and punishable under Section 4(6) of the same Act.
The one-count charge read:
” That you Promise Ibeh “M” being the driver on board the truck with Registration Number LND 231 XN on or about the 23rd of September, 2019 at Abuloma, Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did deal in petroleum product to wit: possession and transporting poorly refined Automotive Gas Oil ( AGO) without appropriate licence or authority and hereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4( 1) of the Petroleum Act, Cap P10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria( LFN) 2004 and punishable under Section 4( 6) of the same Act”.
All the defendants pleaded guilty to their one- count charges when read to them.
In view of their pleas, the prosecuting counsel: Tanko Iko; E. Abbiyesuku, Obinna Franca and Esin-Otu Ebipade prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. The defence counsel: David Dumwe; T. Ogaree, O.K. Okeke. and B. Igbongidi did not oppose the prosecution counsel’s prayers.
Justice Sani sentenced four of the convicts: Ibeh; Chukwu, Amadi and Hashimu to a fine of N100,000 each. The judge also sentenced Messrs Akobundu and Opiah to a fine of N1.1 million each and sentenced Mr Amabebe to two years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000.
Justice Oshomah sentenced Mr Onavo to two years imprisonment or a fine of N1,000,000 and Chetachi Chinedu to a fine of N100,000. The four vessels were sentenced by Justice Sani to a fine of N1,000,000 each.
