Court Jails Ten Oil Thieves In Port Harcourt

Court Jails Ten Oil Thieves In Port Harcourt

Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced ten oil thieves to two years imprisonment each, for dealing in petroleum products without appropriate licenses.

The convicts were jailed on November 25, 29 and 30, 2021 respectively.

Asuquo Okon Iwatt, Edah Peter and Itoro Effiong Bassey were jailed on November 25, 2021. Four others: Kenneth Ekpo; Imoh Tommy, Edmund Asari and Patrick Oliseneku were jailed on November 29, 2021; while Promise Emmanuel, Godfriend Bartholomew and Uyime Ekanem were convicted on November 30, 2021.

They all pleaded guilty to one- count separate charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products without requisite license, following their arraignment by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,

The charge reads:

“That you Edah Peter on or about the 10^th day of September, 2021 around Bonny Deep Shore, Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did without lawful authority dealt in petroleum products to wit: about 1, 500,000 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO)conveyed in MT Bright Hope and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Act Cap 17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, (Revised Edition) 2004 and Punishable under 1 (17) of the same Act”

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, K.W. Chukwudi Eneh prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly,. However, counsel to the defendants: C.B. Okeadaka did not oppose the prayer of the prosecution.

Justice Ajoku found them guilty as charged, and consequently convicted and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each with an option of fine of Four Hundred Thousand Naira only (N400, 000.00).

The judge also ordered that the product on board MT Bright Hope: 1,500,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil( AGO) should be sounded and sold by the Secretary of the Commission or any person authorized by him and the money paid into the EFCC’s Recovery Account.

The convicts were alongside a vessel, MT Bright Hope Bonny Island, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on September 10, 2021. They were subsequently handed over to the EFCC for prosecution.