ISLAM RAFIQUL V. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

UGOCHUKWU ANTHONY OGAKWU, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Appellant was one of ten Defendants arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos Division in CHARGE NO. FHC/L/239c/2015: FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA v. MT ASTERIS and 9 ORS. The Defendants were arraigned on a four count charge of conspiracy to deal with crude oil without lawful authority or appropriate licence, dealing in crude oil without lawful authority or appropriate licence, attempting to export crude oil without lawful authority or appropriate licence and storing crude oil without lawful authority or appropriate licence. At the end of trial, the lower Court, Coram Judice: Buba, J. convicted the Defendants as charged. The Appellant being dissatisfied appealed against the judgment.

The parties filed and exchanged briefs of argument. The extant briefs on which the appeal was argued are:

1. Amended Appellants' Brief of Argument filed on 2nd November 2017 but deemed as properly filed on 6th December 2017.

2. Respo…