Man Bags Five Year Imprisonment Over Illicit Trade In Petroleum Products

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt Rivers State and presided over by  Justice M.L Abubakar has convicted and sentenced, one Clinton Onye to five years imprisonment for illegal dealing in petroleum products with an option to pay the sum of three hundred thousand naira (#300, 000,00)
Delivering judgment on Monday on the matter, Justice Abubakar found Onye  guilty and sentenced him to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of  N300, 000(  Three Hundred Thousand Naira only).
The convict was arrested by the Anti- Bunkering Team of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt  and handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.
The Port Harcourt  Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned him on two- count charges bordering on conspiracy to deal in petroleum products,  contrary to Section 17(1)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable thereunder before a Federal High court in port Harcourt
One of the charges read:
“That you, Clinton Onye, and one Okoro, (surname unknown and currently at large), on 19th day of November, 2019, at Elele Alimini Road, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority or license to deal in petroleum products, had in your possession, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Five (875) liters of Automative Gas Oil (AGO) in a Sky-blue Volvo 240 Car, with registration number: Lagos BF 573 EKY and there-by committed an offence contrary to Section 17(1)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable thereunder.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.
Based on his plea, prosecuting counsel, S.M.H Ibekwute prayed the court to sentence him accordingly. However, defence counsel, B. J.O Ekowo pleaded for leniency, and added that he had become remorseful of his actions
Justice Abubakar thereby found him guilty and sentenced him to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of  N300, 000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira only).