8 Justice I.M. Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted the duo of Udo Michah and Uba Stephen Kelechi to one year imprisonment on separate one count charge of conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products without appropriate license brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Port Harcourt’s Zonal office
One of the charge reads: “That you Udo Micah , on or about the 15th January, 2019 around Rumuigbo, in Port Harcourt Rivers state, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court did deal in petroleum product, Automotive Gas Oil, (AGO) which is not of the quality, and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1(18) (a) (i) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act M17 Reverse Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 1(18) (a) (i) of the same Act”.
The charge against Kelechi reads, “That you Uba Stephen Kelechi on o about the 20th January, 2019 around Imo ive Oyigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did deal in petroleum product, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) which is not of the quality, and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1(18) (a) (i) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act M17 Reverse Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 1(18) (a) (i) of the same Act”.
The defendants pleaded “guilty” to the charges, prompting the prosecuting counsel, K. W Chukwuma-Eneh to urge the court to convict the them accordingly. But counsel to the defendants D.D. Ayuba appealed to the court to be lenient in the exercise of its discretion as the defendants who have no previous criminal record had become remorseful.
Justice Sani, consequently convicted and sentenced Michah to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of One Million Naira while the product in the Truck was ordered forfeited to the Federal Government. However, the Tuck is to be returned to the owner, Destiny Ukpebor Tunde.
Kelechi bagged one year imprisonment with the option of N300, 000 fine.
Micah was arrested by officers of 6 Division Nigerian Army with a Truck with registration ABIA AX 599 EZA loaded with Thirty Three Thousand litres (33, 0000L) of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The case was transferred to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.
