Equity A.T Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday indicted and condemned four oil cheats to two years detainment each for managing wrongfully in oil based goods.

The four convicts were identified as Billah Musa, Abdulmuninu Sherif, Talle Umar and Aliyu Abdulazeez.

They were sentenced after pleading guilty to their separate charges bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products, but were given an option of N300,000 fine each.

A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, indicated that Musa, Sherif and two others were earlier arraigned by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency.

One of the charge read, “That you Abdulmunini Sherif, being the driver on board a truck with Registration Number DAM 1134 XA, on about the 19th May, 2021 at Macoba in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, dealt in petroleum products to wit: loaded and transported about 45,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil which was not of a good quality expected of such a product and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (18) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2004 and punishable under Section 1 (17) (a) of the same Act.”

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In view of their pleas (guilty), prosecution counsels, K.W. Chukwuma Eneh and F. O. Amama, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

However, the defence counsels, M. M. Suleiman, and D. D. Ayuba, did not oppose the prayers of the prosecution counsels.

Justice Mohammed found them guilty as charged, convicted and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each, with an option of fine of N300,000 each.

Justice Mohammed also ordered that the illegally refined products carried in the trucks with Registration Numbers; DAM 114 XA, DAM 97 XA and KWA 80 XA, be sounded and sold by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in conjunction with the Secretary of the EFCC or any officer authorised by the EFCC’s Zonal Commander and the proceeds paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account of the Federation.

The court also directed that the poor quality AGO tied in cellophane bags in the Man Diesel truck with Registration Number: Lagos FST 832 XM should be destroyed.