Justices P. M. Ayuba and S. D. Pam, both of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have convicted and sentenced five oil thieves to various jail terms, for illegal dealing in petroleum products without requisite licences.
The convicts include Wei Ibolo, Mudashiru Toaheed, Etim Edet, Martins Savior and Tope Alani. Their journey to prison started when they were apprehended by the Anti-Bunkering Teams of both the Nigerian Navy and Army at Akassa River in Bayelsa State and Okirika in Rivers State, for illegally dealing in petroleum products without appropriate licences.
They were arrested with a vessel laden with about 700,000 litres of crude oil loaded in MT. TIS IV around Brass Terminal Jetty in Bayelsa State, without any certification by the Nigerian Navy to operate in Nigeria waters, The Trumpet gathered.
They were subsequently handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution. Upon their arraignment by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of EFCC on Thursday, March 31, 2022, they were all jailed after pleading guilty to a one-count separate charge preferred against them.
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The count, according to the EFCC reads, “That you Owei Ibolo on or about the 6th day of December, 2021around the Creek of Akassa River, Bayelsa State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did without lawful authority and licence dealt in Crude Oil to wit: about 700,000 litres conveyed in MT. TIS IV thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (17) (b) of the same Act.”
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, J. N. Dogonyaro and B. C. Kadiri, prayed the court to convict and sentence them as charged. Counsel to the defendants, M. M. Suleiman and B. C. Okeadaka prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, insisting that, “they are first-time offenders and do not have previous criminal records”.
Justices Ayuba and Pam, having heard the case, convicted and sentenced the defendants to various jail terms.
