The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned 19 suspects before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and dealing in petroleum product without licence.

The suspected illegal oil dealers that were arraigned include Ayeni John, Emmanuel Tosu, Emopin Monein, Malade Aiyetimiyi, Odroja Ojune, Ikedehinbu Idowu, Abogun Ota, Elamah Augustine, Olarotimi Elikanah and ThankGod Benjamin.

Others are: Abbas Friday, Victor Goldsmith, Gbenga Thomas, Ibane Austine, Idowu Surprise, Asemia Thomas, Agbayoh Lawrence, Salihu Malik and Ayetiniyi Ademola.

They were reportedly arrested by the Nigerian Navy on August 30, 2018 in Lagos and some parts of Ondo State with two fibre boats laden with petroleum products from a hijacked vessel, MT Mama Elizabeth, and handed over to the Commission for further investigation and prosecution.

At the point of arrest, the sum of N3.5 million, which was suspected to be proceeds from the sales of the illegally acquired products, was found on the suspects.

One of the counts reads: “That you, between August and September 2018, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: dealing in about 21,840 litres of Automotives Gas Oil (AGO) without appropriate licence and 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(17) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Mohammed Idris, asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand them in prison custody.

However, counsel to the defendants, O.S. Odueso, told the court that he had a pending application for bail on behalf of his clients.

Justice Aikawa ordered the defendants to be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case indefinitely to “an open date that will be communicated to both counsels” for the hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.