EFCC arraigns man over illegal dealings in petroleum products

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a man identified as Morris Gbiki Karinane before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, for alleged illegal dealings in petroleum products.

Karinane was arraigned on Thursday, November 2, 2023, before the court on one-count charge bordering on alleged illegal dealing in petroleum products without a requisite license.

The charge read: “That you, Morris Gbiki Karinane on the 15th day of July 2023, at Krakrama Waterways in Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority to deal in Petroleum Product, dealt in unspecified quantity of Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO laden in a Wooden Boat and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(17)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Punishable Section 1(17)(b) of the same Act.”

Karinane, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

In view of the plea, the prosecution counsel, Dr. B. Ubi, requested the court for a trial date.

The counsel for the defendant, M .D. Atimi, informed the court of his application for bail of the defendant, urging the court to grant his client bail on the most liberal terms.

The presiding judge, Justice P .I. Ajoku, however, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre pending the hearing of bail applications.

Ajoku, thereafter, adjourned the matter to Monday, November 6, 2023, for the hearing of bail application.

The EFCC, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed that Karinane was arrested by the officers of the Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt in July 2023 for alleged illegal dealing in petroleum products without license at Krakrama Waterways in Rivers State.

The anti-graft agency noted that Karinane was apprehended onboard a wooden boat containing an unspecified quantity of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO.