The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced three oil thieves and a vessel to various jail terms for illegal dealing in petroleum products without requisite licences.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the convicts, Itepu Endurance, Jibril Saeedu, Suleiman Bello, and MT TIS IV were jailed at various dates, after pleading guilty to separate count charges preferred against them when arraigned by the Port Harcourt’s Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The charge against Saeedu read: “That you Jibril Saeedu being the driver on board a Daf Tanker with registration number YLA ZV on or about the 8th day of March, 2022 at Elelenwo, Obia-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority dealt in petroleum product to wit:  Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2007 and punishable under Section 1(17) of the same Act.”

The charge against Bello read: “That you, Suleiman Muhammed Bello on or about the 22nd day of February 2022 at Imo Gate/Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did without appropriate authority dealt in petroleum products conveyed in DAF Tanker with registration No. BWR 342 XD and thereby committed an offense contrary to  Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Reverse Edition  (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (17) of the same Act.”

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The charge against MT TIS IV read: “That you MT TIS IV on or about the 6th day of December 2021 around the Creek on Akassa River, Bayelsa State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did without lawful authority and license dealt in crude oil to wit: 700,000 litres conveyed in MT TIS IV and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Reverse Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (17) of the same Act.”

Following their pleas of guilt, prosecution counsels, I. Agwu , M. T. Iko and K.W. Chukwuma-Eneh, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants as charged.

However, counsels to the defendants, B. C. Okeadaka and O.N Okeke, M.M Suleiman, and Chisom Nyeche sought the mercy of the court, praying that they should be given lighter sentences “because they are first-time offenders who have no previous criminal records”.

Justice  S. I. Mark convicted and sentenced Endurance to two years imprisonment, with an option of fine of N400,000 payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Government.

Saeedu was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment, with an option of fine of N500,000 by Justice P. I. Ayua,

Justice P. I. Ajoku also convicted and sentenced Bello to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N300,000, while Justice I Dashen sentenced MT TIS IV to a fine of N4 million.

The court also ordered that the crude oil on board the vessel be forfeited to the Federal Government of while the products are to be sold through a public auction under the supervision of the EFCC and the proceeds paid into the commission’s recovery account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Star