An Ebute Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos yesterday ordered that Oluwole Alebiosu, 27, be remanded in prison custody for allegedly being involved in illegal oil bunkering
Chief Magistrate O.O.A. Fowowe-Erusianfe ordered that the accused be remanded for the first 30 days pending when the case would filed at the appropriate court.
Alebious was brought before the court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and dealing in the distribution of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS).
The Prosecutor, G.O. Osuyi, told the court that the accused and others still at large, committed the offences on Dec. 29, 2015 at Osun Road, Jakande Estate, Ejigbo, Lagos.
Osuyi urged the court to remand the accused pending the filing of charge against him at the Federal High Court.
“The offences are exclusively supposed to be prosecuted at the high court. I, therefore, urge the court to remand the accused in prison custody while the police quicken efforts to file a charge at the high court,” he said.
He said that offences were punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C35, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as amended).
The offences also contravened Section 17 (a) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17, Law Federation of Nigeria 2014 (as amended).
The plea of the accused was not taken.
Fowowe-Erusianfe dismissed the plea of the defence counsel, Chief Bello Saka, who had urged the court to grant the accused bail since the offences were bailable.
“I, hereby, dismiss the submission of the defence counsel and order the remand of the accused, and I urge the police to arraign him at the appropriate place,” she said.
The case was adjourned till February 17, for course of arraignment at the high court.
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