Justice I.M. Sani of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 convicted and sentenced Ngwa Amaechi Raphael to six months imprisonment for illegal dealing in petroleum products.
The defendant was prosecuted by the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on one-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum product without appropriate licence.
The convict pleaded guilty after the charge was read to him.
In view of the plea by the defendant, prosecuting counsel, K. W Chukwuma-Eneh prayed the court to convict him accordingly.
Counsel to the defendant, D.D. Ayuba who did not oppose the prayer of the prosecution, appealed to the court for leniency in the exercise of its discretion, noting that the convict was a first a time offender and quite remorseful.
Justice Sani, consequently convicted and sentenced Amaechi to six months imprisonment with an option of N300, 000.00 fine.
Amaechi was arrested for illegal dealing in petroleum products without a license by officers of 6 Division Nigerian Army and his truck with registration number ENU 69 ZH impounded during an anti-bunkering operation at Rumuigbo Port Harcourt. The matter was later handed over the Commission for further investigation.
Amaechi could neither produce the owner of the truck nor the license that authorized him to deal in petroleum products.
Man jailed for possession of fraudulent document
In a related development, Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has sentenced Olowolayemo Sesan to one year imprisonment, with an option of N500, 000.00 fine.
The convict pleaded guilty to the five-count charges of possession of document containing false pretence contrary to Section 320 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 and impersonation contrary to Section 380 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).
Though the defence made an allocutus and also cited section 316 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, which gives the court the discretion to grant his client an option of fine. However, the prosecution opposed the plea.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Dada sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N500,000.00.
