Court remands one Mallam Obi over oil theft in Port Harcourt

A suspected oil thief, Mallam Julius Obi has been remanded in the Port Harcourt Custodial Centre.

He was remanded by the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State for alleged illegal dealing in petroleum products without license.

A statement on Monday by Tony Orilade, acting Head, Media and Publicity the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said Mallam Obi was arraigned on April 24 by the Port Harcourt zonal office of the anti-graft agency.

He was arraigned before Justice H.I.O. Oshomah on one count charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products without license.

The alleged offence is contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 of the Reverse Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria), 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (17) of the same Act.

The charge reads, “That you Mallam Julius Obi on or about the 14th day of March, 2020 in Erahwa Community, in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourble Court without appropriate license dealt in petroleum product to wit: crude oil and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 of the Reverse Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria), 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (17) of the same Act”.

Mallam Obi pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel M.T. Iko prayed the court to remand the defendant in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

However, defense counsel, O.E. Keri urged the court to consider the bail application of the defendant pending before it and grant him bail.

Justice Oshomah granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a civil servant or a plublic offficer who must file an affidavit of means and their resident status verified.

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The court allowed the defendant’s cousin, who was in court, to stand as the second surety and ordered that Obi be remanded in Port Harcourt Custodial Centre, pending the perfection of his bail terms.

The matter was adjourned till the 8th and 9th June, 2020 for commencement trial.

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