Nigeria’s IGP, Alkali Baba
Two men, Usanga Imoh and Zealot Godwin, have been arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, for allegations bordering on unlawful dealing in petroleum products.
Both Usanga and Zealot were arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Tijjani Ringim, by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Milverton, Ikoyi.
They were charged before the court on charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful dealing and storage of 7, 000 liters of Automative Gas Oil (AGO), a petroleum product also known as diesel.
The prosecutor, M. S. Usman, told the court that the two defendants who were arrested with the petroleum product, and others now at large, committed the offences on August 20, 2022.
He told the court that the two defendants stored the petroleum product in truck with Registration Number APP 636 XE.
He told the offences committed by the two men, contravened Sections 3(6); 1(17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1 (17) of the same Act. And section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap P10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
The two defendants, however pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Following the defendants not guilty plea to the charges, the prosecutor, Mr. Usman, asked the court for trial date, as well urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS till the determination of the charges against them.
But the two men, through their lawyer, asked the court to admit them to bail in the most in the most liberal terms, as it their constitutional rights, and they are both first time offenders.
Justice Ringim in his bench ruling on the bail application, admitted each of the defendants to bail in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties in the like sum.
The judge while adjourning the matter till March 30, 2023, for commencement of trial, ordered that the two men be remanded in the custody of the NCoS till they are able to meet the bail terms.
