Forger of Okonjo-Iweala, Keresone Dealer Convicted
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on November 14, 2018 secured the conviction of Raymond Azuka, for offences bordering on forgery, committed between May 2013 and August 2014.
Azuka was standing trial before Justice M.B. Idris of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Nyanya, for a six-count charge, in which he was accused to have intentionally induced the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting, NSPM, to employ him as Security Assistant 1A.
Azuka presented a forged reference letter purportedly made by the Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recommending him as a worthy officer fit for employment. The offence is contrary to section 320(b) of the Penal Code.
The EFCC also accused him in counts one, four, five and six of forgery and intentionally inducing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund “to employ you as Account Officer II by presenting a forged reference letter” purportedly signed by Okonjo-Iweala, then minister of finance.
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Justice Idris found him guilty on counts two and three, in which he was accused of forging the reference letter purportedly signed by Okonjo-Iweala and fixed December 7, 2018 for sentencing and hearing of other charges.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Port -Harcourt, Rivers State, has sentenced a Port Harcourt Kerosene dealer to two years imprisonment for dealing in illegal oil bunkering.
The suspect, Mohammed Mustapha pleaded guilty to one-count charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum product (kerosene).
Justice Liman Abubakar convicted and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of Two Thousand Naira (N2, 000.00) as stipulated by section 4(6) of the Petroleum Act 2004.
The 600 litres of kerosene illegally refined was forfeited to the Federal Government while the vehicle used to convey the product was returned to the owner, Dangote Cement Plc (Transport Division).
The one- count charge reads: “That you Mohammed Mustapha on or about the 22nd day of July, 2017 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority and appropriate license dealt in six hundred litres (600) of petroleum product (DPK) kerosene and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 4(1) of the petroleum Act Cap P10 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under section 4(6) of the same Act.
Tony Orilade,
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
