The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office, has secured the conviction of one Praise Wokoma Barrah for illegal dealing in petroleum products.
A press statement by the EFCC Head, media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, Friday in Abuja, said the convict was jailed by Justice I.M Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
He said the convict was arraigned by the commission on a one-count 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.
The spokesperson said Barrah pleaded guilty to the charge and while reviewing the facts of the matter the Prosecution Counsel, M. T. Iko tendered some documents.
He said Iko called a witness who told the court that the convict was arrested by 6 Division, Nigerian Army at Okwujiagu Area of Port Harcourt, alongside a Ford Bus with registration Number FZE 778 RV while conveying drums containing products suspected to be illegally-refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO).
The prosecution witness further disclosed that the convict, Barrah, did not have a licence from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to lift or deal in petroleum products.
He said in view of the facts Iko urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged and Justice Sani, thereafter, convicted and sentenced Barrah to two years in prison with an option of N200,000 fine.
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