By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced one Muhammed Ovosi to three months’ imprisonment for disguising the origin of ₦5 million used to facilitate the illegal export of one million barrels of petroleum products.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment after Ovosi entered a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In addition to the jail term, the judge ordered him to pay ₦500,000 in line with the agreement.
Our correspondent reports that the conviction followed an application by EFCC counsel, Martha Babatunde, who urged the court to adopt the plea bargain pursuant to Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Ovosi, the 5th defendant in the case, admitted to count five of the seven-count charge filed by the EFCC against six defendants.
He was accused of fraudulently receiving ₦5 million from Mr. Xu Ningqun to facilitate the unlawful oil deal. Investigations revealed that ₦1.77 million of the funds was traced to him.
He has agreed to restitute the amount to the Federal Government.
While Ovosi was convicted, Justice Nwite ordered the remand of the remaining defendants, who pleaded not guilty, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications.
The matter was adjourned until September 15 for the bail hearing.
The EFCC, in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/365/2025, listed Fawei Noel Young, David Macaulay Ugbe, Umar Konto Muhammed Kaigama, Muhammed Ovosi, and Fogmos Professions Ltd as defendants.
In count one, Young, Ugbe, Konto, Kaigama, Fogmos Professions Ltd, Sentuo Oil Refinery Ltd (at large), MT Terepaima (at large), and others at large were accused of conspiring in May, in Abuja, to illegally deal in petroleum products without lawful authority,an offence contrary to Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
