Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has convicted and sentenced Youbowei Loveday, Kareem Fatai and Abdulsalam Taofeek to one year imprisonment each.
They were jailed on Thursday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged them for conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products.
The trio were arrested by the anti-illegal oil bunkering patrol team of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS PATHFINDER on November 5, 2016, around the Onne Port anchorage in Rivers State, alongside a vessel MT Sea Eunice loaded with 1,000,000 litres of petroleum product suspected to be illegally refined automotive gas oil.
The navy handed them over to EFCC officials for prosecution.
One of the charges reads: “That you Abdulsalam Taofeek, on or about 5th November 2016 around FO/FLT/channel anchorage, Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this honorable court; deal in adulteration of petroleum product thereby committed an offence contrary to Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M18 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria), 2007 and punishable under Section 18 (i) and (ii) of the same Act”
They all pleaded guilty to the one-count charge when it was read to them.
In view of their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, K.W. Chukwuma Eneh, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.