EFCC ARRAIGNS INDIAN FOR ILLEGAL OIL DEALING
The Economic Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, arraigned one Indian national, Rahul Pathania, and a vessel, M.V. Bount, for illegal oil dealing, before the Federal High court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
The Nigerian Navy arrested the Indian alongside the vessel and subsequently handed over to the Commission for prosecution, according to the Anti-Graft Agency.
They were arraigned on three-count charges bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products.
One of the counts reads: “That you, M.V.Bount and Rahul Pathania, on January 31 2020, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to commit an offence to wit: dealing in 45 metric tons of petroleum product without an appropriate license.
You have thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under Section 1(7) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded guilty to the first count of conspiracy, however, said he is not guilty to the others.
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Considering plea of the defendant, the prosecution counsel, Usman Buhari, enjoined the court to give a date to commence the trial, and also asked the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS).
The presiding Judge, Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa adjourned the matter to October 7, 2020, for the commencement of trial and also ordered the defendant to be remanded in the NCS.
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