10 illegal oil dealers sentenced to 5 years imprisonment

 

Ten illegal oil dealers were today sentenced to five years jail term by the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The convicts had been facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products since their vessel was intercepted by the Nigerian Navy Ship Ikot-Abasi on April 4, 2015.

Their names are: James Abatan, Wasiu Abdul Owonikoko, Patrick Ameh, Johnson Ademola, Felix Otto, Chigozie Oguike, Olu Salisu, Jomo Gadagbe, Kunle Oba, and Saheed Rasheed Adio.

They had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them upon their arraignment on July 23, 2015.

Justice Muhammad Idris, however, said today that the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, who presented witnesses and tendered several documents that were admitted in evidence by the court during trial, had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts were guilty of illegally dealing in petroleum products.