Justice I.M Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced seven fraudsters and four vessels to various jail terms for illegal dealing in petroleum products.
Two other fraudsters were also convicted and sentenced to other jail terms by another Federal High Court presided over by Justice Hillary Oshomah.
The convicts, who were sentenced separately at different dates included Promise Ibeh; Franklin Chukwu; John Amadi; Chetachi Chinedu; Austin Akobundu; Ogochukwu Opiah; Gladstone Amabebe, Abdulganiyu Hashimu and Mohammed Onawo.
Four vessels: M.V Prophet Elijah; M.V. Aye, M.V Kome I and M.V. Lady Virtue were also convicted.
DAILY POST reports that the convicts were all arraigned on different days by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office, on one count separate charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products contrary to Section 4 (1) of the Petroleum Act, CAP P10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, and punishable under Section 4(6) of the same Act.
One of the charges reads; “That you Promise Ibeh “M” being the driver on board the truck with Registration Number LND 231 XN on or about the 23rd of September, 2019 at Abuloma, Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did deal in petroleum product to wit: possession and transporting poorly refined Automotive Gas Oil ( AGO) without appropriate licence or authority and hereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4( 1) of the Petroleum Act, Cap P10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria( LFN) 2004 and punishable under Section 4( 6) of the same Act”.
In another development; Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested five suspected internet fraudsters at Exrico Lodge, behind Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.
Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement obtained by DAILY POST says the suspects were arrested in a sting operation at the University environment.
The suspects were: Onuoha Chinedu, Harry Victor, Basil Chukwunaeke, Amayhayi Chukwuli and Nwabueze Nnaemeka.
Uwujaren said their arrest followed series of intelligence linking them with alleged fraudulent activities ranging from love scam on numerous dating sites, obtaining money by false pretences and other fraud still being investigated.
