ENUGU – The Federal High Court in Enugu on Thursday heard how three accused persons concealed adulterated automotive gas oil under empty crates of beer and minerals in a
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The accused persons, Nnamdi Onyekwere, Chizoba Nwankwo and Kenneth Okpara are standing trial for illegal possession of adulterated petroleum product.
The prosecution witness, Mr Okpata Elem of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), told the court that his team tracked the accused persons following a tip off.
“We sighted the accused persons on Sept. 5, 2013 discharging something behind De-Frontline Oil and Gas Ltd on the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.
“We discovered that the truck was carrying empty crates of beer and minerals but underneath were 28 drums of the oil, otherwise known as diesel,” he said.
Elem said that after testing the product with hydro metal, they discovered that it was adulterated.
He had earlier told the court that part of the organisation’s mandate was to check for illegal dealings on petroleum products and vandalism of oil pipelines.
Under cross-examination by the counsel to the defendants, Mrs A. Ugbene, the witness said that he saw the three suspects with the adulterated products.
The presiding judge, Justice Dorothy Agishi, adjourned the matter to March 25 for further hearing. (NAN)