EFCC Charge Two Indian To Court For Illegal Bunkering

The Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on wednesday arraigned two foreign nationals : Rahul Pathania, an Indian national, and a vessel, M.V. Bount before Justice Rilwan .M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on a three-count charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum product.

The suspects,were apprehended alongside the vessel by the Nigerian Navy and handed over to the anti-graft agency for prosecution.

One of the count 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 licence 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.”

In view of the charges leveled against them, the suspects pleaded guilty to the first count of conspiracy but not guilty on the others.

After considering the plea from the prosecuting council Usman Buhari to start the trial, Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter to October 7, 2020 for commencement of trial and also ordered the defendant to be remanded in the NCS.