The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a man for allegedly dealing illegally in petroleum products.
The anti-graft agency arraigned Morris Karinane on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt in Rivers State, South-south Nigeria.
He was arraigned on one count of dealing in an “unspecified quantity of Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) laden in a wooden boat,” a statement by the spokesperson for the commission, Dele Oyewale, said Friday.
The commission said Mr Karinane’s case started on 15 July when he was intercepted and arrested by the officers of the Nigerian Navy, NNS Pathfinder, Rumolumeni, Port Harcourt.
The defendant was caught allegedly dealing illegally in petroleum products without a licence on Krakrama Waterways in Rivers State.
His offence is said to be contrary to Section 1(17)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Punishable Section 1(17)(b) of the same Act.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charge when it was read to him on Thursday.
The trial judge, P .I. Ajoku, subsequently ordered the Remand of the defendant in prison pending the hearing of his bail application.
The judge fixed 6 November for the hearing.
The charge reads:
“That you, Morris Gbiki Karinane on the 15th day of July, 2023, at Krakrama Waterways in Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority to deal in Petroleum Product, dealt in unspecified quantity of Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO laden in a Wooden Boat and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(17)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Punishable Section 1(17)(b) of the same Act”.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of the plea, prosecution counsel, Dr. B. Ubi prayed the court for a trial date.
However, counsel to the defendant, M .D. Atimi informed the court of his application for bail of the defendant, urging the court to grant his client bail on the most liberal terms.
Justice Ajoku ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Service pending the hearing of bail applications.
The matter was adjourned to November 6, 2023 for hearing of bail application.
Karinane’s case started when he was intercepted and arrested by the officers of Nigerian Navy, NNS Pathfinder, Rumolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State in July 2023 for alleged illegal dealing in petroleum products without license at Krakrama Waterways in Rivers State. He was apprehended onboard a wooden boat containing an unspecified quantity of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO.