The Ikeja High Court has remanded five oil marketers in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the alleged theft of petroleum products worth N1 billion property of United Bank of Africa (UBA).
The defendants are – Thompson Omoietan, Adeleke Lasun, Funmilola Oyerinde, Adegoke Shadrack and James Amore.
They plead not guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy to steal, stealing and forgery.
Following their plea, their counsel had asked the court to grant them bail in the most liberal terms.
Justice Josephine Oyefeso, however, ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the ruling on their bail application.
“This case is adjourned to June 11 for ruling on the bail application,” Justice Oyefeso said.
According to Mr Kayode Oni, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, the five defendants committed the offences in September 2011 alongside 13 others who are currently at large.
Those at large are – Ngozi Okoye, Menol Oil and Gas Ltd, Faicek Petroluem Ltd, Cynthia Gboneme, Onyebuchi Patience, Godwin Onyeke and Moses Ojera.
Others are Umanah Bassey, Onwuka Ibisi, Hyginus Nwosu, Solomon Okpithe, Gbolade Otukoya, and Godwin Omoke.
According to Oni, the defendants allegedly conspired and stole petroleum products worth N1billion property of UBA.
“The defendants and their alleged accomplices also forged documents titled Supervisory Discharge Certificate addressed to the Managing Director of Menol Oil and Gas Ltd,” Oni said.
According to the EFCC, the offences contravene Sections 278, 285, 359, 363 and 409 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos 2011.
