Illegal Oil Bunkering: Court Orders Fresh Trial of Blue Dolphin Limited, Others

Justice Philomena Ekpe of the Court of Appeal, Calabar division, Cross Rivers State, on Monday, May 18, 2020 set aside the decision of a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, which acquitted Edward Odey Oluohu, Frank Asuquo Okon, Godwin Etim Anwanadung and their companies, Blue Dolphin Limited and Lib-Zone Petroleum Limited, in a case of alleged oil bunkering brought before it by the Uyo Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The EFCC on May 22, 2018 arraigned Oluohu alongside Okon, Anwanadung and their companies, Blue Dolphin Limited and Lib-Zone Petroleum Limited before Justice F. O. Riman of the Federal High Court, Uyo, on a 6-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products.

When arraigned, the accused persons pleaded “not guilty” to all the counts, setting the stage for their trial which commenced on June 22, 2018.

In the course of trial, the prosecution, through its counsel, Nwandu Ukoha presented three witnesses and tendered 14 exhibits which were all admitted in evidence.

The defence counsel, Ime Umana moved a ‘No Case Submission’ arguing that the evidence against his clients were not sufficient to justify the continuation of trial and urged the court to discharge and acquit them.