The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned a Police Inspector, Lukman Rabiu and two other persons before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly tampering with oil pipeline.
Other accused persons are: Bashorun Sunny Eke, Waliu Tella, and Bashorun Eke’s hotel, Glonik Hotel Limited.
The EFCC alleged that the accused who were docked before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit:malicious tampered with pipeline.
In an amended charge filed before the court, the three accused persons were said to have committed the offence on October 4,2017,at 31 Social Club road, Oko-Oba, Lagos.
One of the accused, an hotelier, was alleged to have used his hotel, Glonik Hotel Limited, situated at 31, Social Club road, Oko-Oba, Lagos, for tampering with oil pipeline.
According to EFCC’s prosecutor, Mr. Murtala Usman, the offences are contrary to sections 3 (6), 1 (7)(a) and (b) and punishable under sections 1(7)(a) and (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. Cap. M17, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The offence was also said to be contrary to and punishable under section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006.
However the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following their pleas, lawyers to the accused including Jude Ehide, Ayodele Olaniyi, and Frank Eke, urged the court to admit their clients to bail in the most liberal terms.
The prosecutor, Mr. Usman, told the court that his commission did not file any counter to the first accused person’s bail application,he however said that he has replied to the applications of second and third accused persons.
Ruling on the bail applications, the presiding judge, Justice Oguntoyinbo, admitted the first accused, Eke to bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties in the sum of N1 million each.
She also admitted the second and third accused to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in the sum of N1 million each.
The judge also ordered that the accused persons to deposit their international passport with the Court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR), and that each of the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means, and have their Bank’s details, phone numbers, home and office addresses verified by the prosecutor.
She however ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prisons custody pending when they perfect their perfection bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned till January 10 and 18, for trial.