The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday arraigned an Indian National, Rahul Pathania and a vessel, M.V Bount for illegal dealing in petroleum product.
The accused person was arraigned before Justice RIlwan Aikawa of Federal High Court Ikoyi Lagos on a three counts charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum product
The defendant was arrested alongside the vessel, by the Nigerian Navy and subsequently handed over to the commission for prosecution.
One of the charges against the defendant reads: that you M.V Bount and Rahul Pathania on the 31st day of January 2020, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, conspired among yourselves to commit an offence to wit: dealing in 45 Metric Tons of petroleum product without appropriate license and you thereby committed 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(7) of the same Act.
He pleaded guilty to the first count of conspiracy and not guilty on the subsequent counts.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Usman Buhari prayed the court for a date to commence trial and also asked that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS).
Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter to October 7, 2020 for trial and also ordered the defendant to be remanded in the NCS.
