AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ebonyi State Command, has arraigned two men for allegedly importing, exporting and selling adulterated fertilizer in the name of the Ebonyi State Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited, Onuebonyi, without authority.
The suspects, Lebechi Ogboji and Chukwubuike Chinedu, aged 34 years and 32 years, respectively, were arraigned recently in a suit marked ‘MAB/525c/2021’.
They allegedly committed the offence on July 27, 2021, on Onuebonyi Road, beside Saint Margaret Umahi’s International Market, in Ebonyi State.
Police Prosecutor, DSP Mathias Ezeh, held that the offence was contrary to Section 2(1)(6), punishable under Section 20(1)5 of Nigeria fertilizer Quality Control Act 2019, contrary to the National Fertilizer Quality (Control) 2019 Act No 23, and punishable under Section 519 of the Criminal Code Cap 2004, Law of the Federation of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After considering the matter, the trial Magistrate, Blessing Ibeabuchi-Chukwu, granted the suspects bail to the tune of N1million and one reasonable adult surety each in like sum.
She insisted that the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, adding that they must swear affidavit of means, show evidences of tax payment for three years and deposit their passport photographs with the court.
The matter was later adjourned to 30th August 2021 for continuation of hearing.
The charge read, “That you Lebechi Ogboji ‘m’, Chukwubuike Chinedu ‘m’ and two others, now at large, on the 27th day of July 2021, at Onuebonyi road, beside International market in the Ebonyi State magisterial district, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: to import, export and sell adulterated fertilizer without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to National Fertilizer Quality (Control) 2019 Act No 23 and punishable under Section 519 of Criminal Code, Cap 2004, Law of the Federation of Nigeria.
“That you, Lebechi Ogboji ‘m’, Chukwubuike Chinedu and two others on the said date in the aforementioned magisterial district, did commit a felony to import, export and sell/ distribute adulterated fertilizer to farmers in Ebonyi State, thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18C, punishable under Section 19 of the National Fertilizer Quality (Control )2019 Act No 23, Law of the Federation of Nigeria.
“That you Lebechi Ogboji ‘m’, Chukwubuike Chinedu and two others, now at large, on the said date, in the said place and aforementioned magisterial district, did commit an offence of carrying business of selling adulterated fertilizer in the name of Ebonyi State Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(1)(6), punishable under Section 20(1)5 of the Nigeria fertilizer Quality Control 2019 Act No 23.”
