Justice I.M. Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced Michael Adamu to two years imprisonment for offences bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products without appropriate license contrary to Section 4 (1) of the Petroleum Act CAP P10 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 4(6) of the same Act. Also, Lukman Musa was convicted and sentenced in the same court to a fine of N100,000 for another oil- related offences.

The one- count charge against Adamu reads: “That you Micheal Adamu, being the driver on board Truck with registration Number: EHR 637 XA, on or about the 16th of May, 2019 at Abua, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court deal in petroleum product to wit: loading illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) without appropriate licence or authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4 (1) of the Petroleum Act CAP P10 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 4(6) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded guilty to the count charge when read to him.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, N.A. Dodo, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly. Counsel to the defendant, R.U. Oyiwona, did not oppose the prosecution counsel’s prayers.

Justice Sani subsequently convicted and sentenced Adamu to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N1.1 million which shall be paid into the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Account through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He also ordered that the content of the truck be sold and the proceeds forfeited to the Federal Government.

Adamu ran into trouble when men of 6 Division, Nigerian Army’s Anti-Bunkering Operation Team in Port Harcourt arrested a Mack Tanker with registration Number EHR 637 XA on May 16, 2019 at Abua with product suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). Adamu was the driver of the truck and he was prosecuted accordingly.

In the case of Musa, Justice L.M Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, convicted and sentenced him to a fine ofN100,000.

Musa was arraigned by the EFCC Port Harcourt Zonal Office on one-count charge bordering on possession and transporting Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) without appropriate licence.

He pleaded guilty to the count charge.

Justice Abubakar convicted and sentenced Musa to a fine of N100,000. He also ordered that the product on board the truck be forfeited to the Federal Government and the truck released to the owner by the court after paying the sum of One Million Naira only.

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