CHUKA UBAH
Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced Rabiu Aliyu to two years imprisonment for illegal dealing in petroleum products, without an appropriate licence.
The convict was jailed after pleading guilty to a one-count charge, bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products without authority and an appropriate licence, upon arraignment by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The charge read:”That you Rabiu Aliyu, on the 16th day of May, 2017 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did without appropriate licence deal in about Thirty Three Thousand (33,000) litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (17) (a) of Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 of the Revised Edition, (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (17) (b) of the same Act”.
In view of the plea of the defendant, prosecution counsel, Endeba Abiyesuku, prayed the Court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
Counsel to the defendant, M. M. Suleiman, did not oppose the prayers of the prosecution but prayed the Court to temper justice with mercy.
Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250, 000.00). He ordered the 33,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) arrested with the convict, to be forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Truck with registration number XA 538 BGW released to its owner.
Aliyu’s journey to the Correctional Facility started after he was arrested sometimes in 2017 by the Anti- Illegal Oil Bunkering patrol team of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, at Akala Olu Community, in Rivers State, for illegal dealing in petroleum products.
The convict was also arrested alongside a DAF truck with registration XA 538 BGW loaded with products suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). He was thereafter handed over to EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.
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