The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Bola Labinjo, the wife of former President of Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), Niyi Dada Labinjo, at a Federal High Court, Lagos, for illegally dealing in petroleum products.
Upon the arraignment of Bola and 11 others, Justice Muslim Hassan, ordered the anti-graft agency to also produce Niyi Labinjo in court on December 2.
The 12 defendants arraigned on Wednesday include MT Adeline, Mrs. Bola Labinjo, Jonathan Abaka alias Joy Boy, Charles Ikemefuna, Benjamin Gold Gageche, Hamzat Yakubu, Emmanuel Oputa, and Peter Dung Pule.
Others are Innocent Akpan, Kehinde Labinjo, Pius Matthew Paul, Onoja Emmanuel, Adeleke Hamed, Global Shipping Activities Bureau Ltd and Labland and Sea Services Ltd.
The defendants were arraigned by the EFCC on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony to wit illegal dealing in petroleum products.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants sometime in 2018, conspired with Segun Sahiyu, Ogunmoyero Oluwaseun Eric, Akpan Friday Itoro, Mr. Richard, Captain Felix, Captain Jude, Engineer Teddy, Mr. Michael, MT Juko, Captain Dada Olaniyi Olabinjo, all said to be at large, to commit the alleged illegal act.
EFCC counsel Mrs. Oluwakemi Yemi-Makinde, said the offences contravened Section 17(a) &(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004.
Each defendant pleaded not guilty.
The team of defence counsel, including Jerry Omoregie, Kolawole Salami, Odo R. U and A. Aruwayo told the court that Mrs. Labinjo, Abaka, Benjamin and Yakubu were arraigned in August on the same allegations and granted bail by Justice Chuka Obiozor.
They prayed the judge to admit the defendants to bail on the same terms.
Justice Hassan admitted the other defendants to bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum each, among other conditions.
He fixed December 2, 2019 for hearing of the vessels’ bail applications, and commencement of all the defendants’ trial.
