The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed charges of
conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen goods against an Edo-born
businessman and leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo Central
senatorial zone, Chief Francis Inegbeniki.
Others who are to face the same charges along with him before a High Court
in Warri, Delta State, are the Chief Executive Officer of Omo-Jay Nigeria
Limited, Mr Jerome Itepu; Omo-Jay Nigeria Limited and Ine Oil Limited
owned by Inegbeneki.
The suit, which is yet to be assigned to a trial Judge, was filed in the
High Court of Justice, Asaba, Delta State, on March 24, 2015 by A.J.
Arogha, Esq and U.R. Ewoh, Esq for the Chairman of the EFCC.
In the suit numbered A/EFCC/1c/2015, the EFCC, acting on the instruction
of the Federal Government, who is the complainant, is suing the accused
persons on a five-count offence.
They are charged with “conspiracy contrary to, and punishable under
section 516 of the Criminal Code Law, CAP C21, Laws of Delta State 2006.”
In the particulars of offence, the accused persons, sometime in 2009, at
Warri, Delta State, within the jurisdiction of the Court, conspired among
themselves to “commit felony, two wit: stealing and thereby committed an
offence.”
The accused were said to have also committed the offence of stealing
contrary to section 383 of the Criminal Code Law, CAP C21, Laws of Delta
State 2006 and which is punishable under section 390(4)(c) of the same
law.
According to the particulars of the offence, they stole about 12,000
metric tonnes of crude oil loaded in vessel-MT Akuada a.k.a. MT Kua,
valued at N384,000,000:00, in 2009, being property of the Federal
Government of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence.
The third count, as particularised, indicates that the accused also stole
about 4,000 metric tonnes of crude oil loaded in a vessel-MT Hope, valued
at N128, 000,000, being property of the Federal Government.
Inegbeneki, who is listed as the second accused person in the charge
sheet, is further charged with receiving stolen goods contrary to, and
punishable under section 427 of the Criminal Code Law, CAP C21, Laws of
Delta State 2006, having received from the Jerome Itepu (first accused)
and Omo-Jay (third accused) about 12,000 metric tonnes of crude oil
knowing the same to have been stolen and thereby committed an offence.
He is also charged with receiving from the first and third accused persons
about 4,000 metric tonnes of crude oil knowing the same to have been
stolen and thereby committed an offence.