The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned an assistant superintendent of police, Dodo Chilla Bulus, before Justice E.S Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja on a two-count charge bordering on oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The accused person and fourteen others who are being prosecuted by the Commission before the same court were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to break crude oil pipeline and siphon product.
The others are Joseph Amaechi, Israel Friday, Ubadia Francis, Abayomi Adebisi, Abdullahi Idris, Samuel Job, Onah Peter Ode, Sabo TashaHassan, Abdullahi Moh’d, Abubakar Abdulkadir, Ehiogu Paul, Ibrahim Saidu, Garba Mohammed and Bartholomew Onyema.
After the police suspect had taken his plea, counsel to EFCC, Elizabeth Ayodele asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the accused person in prison custody.
Responding, the defence counsel, Alex Akunebu prayed the court to admit his client to bail.
He said the essence of bail is to ensure that the accused person is available for trial, adding that the accused person being a Police Officer understands what bail means and that he is ready to comply with the bail terms if so granted.
Akunebu therefore urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of his client.
However, Ayodele objected on the ground that the offence committed by the accused person is an economic sabotage against the state which attracts life imprisonment if found guilty.
According to her, the accused person being a Police Officer knows the gravity of the offence he has committed and may jump bail or interfere with the witnesses. She therefore urged the court to refuse their application.
Justice Chukwu adjourned the case till 25 February, 2014 for ruling on the bail application while the accused person is to remain in prison custody.
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