The Port Harcourt Area Command (EFCC) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has indicted oil magnate Azubuike Uzoma before Justice Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for allegedly illegally trafficking in petroleum products. . 24,310,000,000 Naira (24,310,000 Naira).
He was indicted on October 25, 2023, on three counts related to money laundering and illegal trafficking in petroleum products.
One of the complaints reads: “You, Azubuike Uzoma (trading under the name and style of ALVIN D INTERNATIONAL), sometime in June 2022, possessed within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court the sum of twenty-three million naira (23,000,000). , Three Hundred and Hundred Thousand Naira). was paid into your account at Keystone Bank Limited, and you reasonably should have known that the funds were part of the proceeds of an illegal activity, namely the illegal trade in petroleum products. an offense contrary to section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Act.”
However, when the indictment was read to Azuma Uzuma, he pleaded not guilty.
Following his plea, the defense lawyer, Mr. Abdulrahman Abubakar, prayed the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant to the Department of Corrections where he is pending trial.
The defendant's lawyer, CJ Numerem, did not object to the prosecution's prayers, but asked the court to grant his client bail so he could prepare for trial.
Thereafter, Judge Muhammad granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) and two sureties of the same amount. One of the sureties must be a civil servant of her grade 14 or above in the Rivers State Government and the other one must be a family member of the defendant.The guarantor must deposit two recent passport photos with the court and have a verifiable address
The judge adjourned the matter until January 22, 2024, for the start of the trial.
Mr. Azubuike’s case began when operatives of the commission arrested him in Ndoni community in Oneruga Local Government Area of Rivers State on charges of illegal trafficking in petroleum products and money laundering.
