Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday, December 15, convicted and sentenced nine foreigners alongside their vessel for illegal oil bunkering. The convicts, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on June 18, 2015 were found guilty on a 4-count charge that bordered on conspiracy and illegal oil bunkering.
The convicts are five Bangladeshi and four Filipinos. They are Axel Joseph Gibo Jabone, MD Zahirul Islam, Juanto Camireno Infantado, Suarin Fernando Alave, Gatila Jaypee Gadayan, Islam Shahinul, Islam Rafiqul, Shaikh Shibli Nomany and Rolando Jose Comendador. The vessel is MT Asteris.
Justice Buba found the nine persons guilty on a four-count charge and accordingly convicted and sentenced them to five years imprisonment on each of the count. The sentences are to run concurrently.
However, Justice Buba gave each of the convicts an option of N20 million fine on the four counts.
Justice Buba also ordered that the vessel, MT Asteris and cargo on board be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
MT Asteris and the crew members were intercepted by Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft during a routine operation in the Nigeria waters on March 28, 2015 with 3423.097 Metric Tons of Crude Oil without lawful authority or appropriate license, an offence contrary to Section 1 (19)(6)of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 17 of the same Act.
Upon interception, Captain of the vessel claimed that the vessel was not carrying any product but further investigation by the Commission revealed that the vessel was carrying petroleum product without the relevant documents indicating where the product was lifted and its destination.
In a related development, Justice Buba also convicted and sentenced Alakinde Wale and Boniface Onuabuchi to two years imprisonment on a five count charge bordering on conspiracy and dealing in petroleum product without lawful authority. The convicts were said to have in June 2014 conspired among themselves to commit an offence of dealing in premium motor spirit without lawful authority or appropriate licence.
Justice Buba also gave the convicts an option of N500,000 fine on each of the five count but ordered that the vessel, MV Zahra and the cargo on board be forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
15th December, 2015
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Reps Backs EFCC’s Anti-Graft Efforts
The House of Representative is resolved to fully support the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in its determined efforts to tackle corruption and economic crimes in Nigeria. Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti- Corruption, Hon. Kayode Oladele gave this indication Tuesday, during an interactive meeting with the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Mustafa Magu at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Oladele said the House of Representatives and the Committee are determined to partner with the Executive to ensure significant reduction in incidents of financial crimes in Nigeria.
“We are conscious of the growing need of anti-graft agencies in a rapidly evolving information age. Most transactions now take place on electronic platforms, and sophisticated networks of corporate, terrorist and political elements are now having convergent interests in keeping their illicit money and in perpetrating most economic crimes. This places additional pressure on our anti- graft agencies in understanding and smashing these networks.
“Within the limited resources available, this committee shall give the required support to the EFCC in ensuring that the agency is well equipped to undertake top-notch investigation and prosecution,” he said.
Responding, Magu thanked the Committee for the warm reception and show of support. He said he is convinced that, under his leadership the Commission will benefit from the wealth of experience of members of the Committee. He also urged the Committee to leave its doors open for him as he will be coming from time to time for advice and suggestions from them .
“ I will be counting on your advice and suggestions as we partner in this difficult task of freeing our nation from the grip of corruption. I will also be counting on your support to overcome some of the challenges which we face in the discharge of our duties.”
The EFCC Boss said the Commission in 2014 recorded 126 convictions and so far in 2015 the Commission is working on increasing the figure.
Magu presented the Commission’s 2015 budget performance to the Committee. He said out of the total allocation of N10, 472,982,781 (Ten Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy Two Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty One Naira), the sum of N8,781,256,943,75. (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Eighty One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty Three Naira, Seventy Five Kobo) which represents 83 percent was released as at November, 2015
He urged the committee to intervene in the completion of the Commission’s proposed head office which he said, will address the serious office accommodation problem faced by the Commission.
Magu who was accompanied on the visit by the Secretary to the Commission, Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremo and other members of the EFCC management team, thanked the Committee for the vote of confidence in the Commission. He promised that the Commission will do its best in ensuring that the fight against all forms of graft in the country is taken to a higher level.
Other members of the Committee present include: Hon. Goodluck Obia who is the deputy chairman of the committee, Hon. Danladi Baido, Hon Rufai Ahmed Chanchangi amongst others.
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