Gambian, Senegalese, Nigerian Arraigned For Illegal Diesel Deal
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission on Monday arraigned a Gambian, Baboucar Jallow, a Senegale, Ndiaga
Ba, alongside a Nigerian, Abel Bassey, for allegedly dealing in 300 metric
tonnes of diesel without lawful authority.
The trio were arraigned alongside
their vessel, MT Wolof, before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Also mentioned in the charge was one
Japcco Nigeria Ltd., said to be at a large.
The two counts preffered against the
defendants border on conspiracy and unlawful deal in petroleum products.
The EFCC, in the charges, said the
defendants committed the offence sometime in June.
Counsel for the EFCC, Ekene
Iheanacho, told Justice Mohammed Idris that the defendants acted contrary to
Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation
of Nigeria 2004 and are liable to punishment under Section 1(17) of the same Act.
The defendants, however, pleaded not
guilty when the charges were read to them.
After rejecting the bail
application filed for their by their lawyer, Adegboyega Adetunji, Justice Idris
ordered that the defendants should be remanded in the prison custody pending
the conclusion of trial.
The judge held, "I have read
all the processes filed in this case and the submission of counsel on both
sides. I cannot find my way clear in granting this application for bail.
"There is no evidence that the
defendants are resident within the jurisdiction of this court, therefore, bail
is refused; accelerated hearing of this case is hereby ordered."
The judge adjourned till December
13, 2017 for commencement of trial.
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