Two men, Adebiyi Saheed and Atoyebi Sunday, were today, arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for conspiracy and unlawful dealing in petroleum products.
The defendants were brought before the court presided over by Justice Abimbola Awogboro, by men of the Department of State Security (DSS).
The DSS lawyer, Mr. M. O. Bajela, while arraigning the two defendants today, told the court that the two defendants committed the offences at Atlasco Right of Ways in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State on daily basis.
He particularly told the court that the defendants and others now at large, without appropriate license, aided, counselled and procured the dealing and possession of petroleum product.
The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the defendants contravened Sections 3(6) and 1(17)of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 1(17) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The two men pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the defendants’ not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date, while urging the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charges against them.
The defendants’ counsel, Lukman Kareem, informed the court that he had filed his clients’ bail applications and same has been served the prosecutor.
The prosecutor admitted being served with the applications and told the court that he is not opposing it.
Following the none opposition from the prosecutor, Justice Awogboro, admitted the two defendants to bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety each.
The judge held that the surety could be a blood relation to the defendants or a landed property owners within the court’s jurisdisction who must also be gainfully employed.
The surety must also produced evidence of tax payment and must be a resident with the Court’s jurisdisction.
The judge has adjourned till November 5, for the commencement of the defendants’ trial.
The charge against the defendants reads:
That you ADEBIYI SAHEED (M) and ATOYEBI SUNDAY (M) on a daily basis while on duty at the Atlasco Right of Ways in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did conspire with others now at large to deal in petroleum product without lawful authority and appropriate license thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 1(17) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
