Justice I. M. Sani of the Federal High Court, Warri on Tuesday May 21, 2024 convicted and sentenced the trio of John Ofuafo Stanley, Ogba Joseph and Samson E. Ogbevire to various jail terms for illegally dealing in petroleum products.
They were jailed after pleading guilty to a two-count charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products alongside a vessel, TUG MV STEPH-1 upon arraignment by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
One of the charge reads: “That You JOHN OFUAFO STANLEY, OGBA JOSEPH and SAMSON .E. OGBEVIRE on or about the 6th July, 2023 at KFT Yard Edjeba, along NPA express way, Warri South Local Government of Delta State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: dealt in petroleum product to wit; unspecified quantity of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) which is not of a quality expected of the product and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition), 2004 and punishable under section 1 (18)(a)(i) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them in court, prompting the prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as they have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Sani convicted and sentenced Stanley, Joseph and Ogbevire to two years imprisonment for each of the two counts or an option of N300,000 on each of the counts.
The judge also convicted the 4th defendant, (TUG MV STEPH 1) to a fine of N4,000, 0000 ( Four Million Naira million Naira only) in lieu of its final forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC.
The convicts’road to prison began following their arrest by officers of the Nigeria Navy Ship Delta, NNS Delta for illegal dealing in Petroleum products. They were handed over to the Commission on November 21 2023 for further investigation and possible prosecution.