A Chief Magistrates Court in Port Harcourt has granted bail in the sum of N150,000 to an 18-year-old, Chinwendu Onyekwere.
Onyekwere was accused of dealing in petroleum products without a licence.
Also granted bail in the same sum were her accomplices, Dike Nwankwo, 46 and Uche Onyeka, 20.
The accused allegedly committed the offence on October 17 at Yam zone, Eleme in Eleme Local Government.
They were charged with illegally dealing in petroleum products. The charge was read to them and they pleaded not guilty.
Their lawyers applied for bail on the grounds that the alleged offence was bailable. They, however, assured the court that the accused would not jump bail.
Magistrate Sokari Andrew-Jaja granted the suspects bail in the sum of N150, 000.00 with one surety.
He said the surety must be a top official in the rank of a manager and must be resident in Port Harcourt, adding that the surety must present two passport photographs.
“The residential address of the surety must be verified by the prosecutor.”
Prosecutor Wilson Isaiah had informed the court that the offence was contrary to Section (17) (a) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, and Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as applicable in Rivers State.
The court adjourned the matter till October 29 for hearing.
