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Justice E. A. Obile of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced five oil thieves, Onajeite Kingsley, Praise ThankGod, Promise Barikpe, Victor Elias and Lawrence Atteng, to two years in prison for illegal dealing in petroleum products.
The offence runs contrary to Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
They were jailed on July 7, 2022, after pleading “guilty” to separate one count charges preferred against them upon their arraignment by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Victor Elias, PraiseGod Israel (still at large) Onajeite Kingsley, (still at large), Captain of Bonny River (still at large), Promise Barikpe (still at large) Lawrence Atteng (still at large), MV. Bonny River (still at large) Barge Kanye (still at large) on the 22nd of January, 2022, at kilometer 45, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did without lawful authority or license deal in Petroleum products, had in your possession, MV. Bonny River and Barge Kanye laden with 869,045 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, AGO and thereby committed an offennce punishable under Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004″.
They pleaded “guilty” to the charges.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, S. M. H. Ibekwute, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants as charged.
Counsels to the defendants; Dignity. N. Nwieke and Richard. U. Oyowona prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they are first time offenders and do not have any previous criminal records.
Justice Obile convicted and sentenced the defendants to two years in imprisonment each with an option of fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000.00) payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, the option of fine varies in the case of Israel, the Captain on board MV Bonny River. He was given a fine of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (500,000.00).
The Judge also ordered that the sum of Two Hundred and Twenty Seven Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Nine Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Naira (N227, 689,790.00) that was earlier forfeited in the interim to the Federal Republic of Nigeria pursuant to Section 31 of the Economic and Financial Crimes (Establishment Act), 2004 ,being proceeds of the sale of the 869,045 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, AGO on board Barge Kanye, towed by MV. Bonny River, paid into the EFCC recovery Account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria, be forfeited finally to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Israel, Kingsley, Barikpe, Elias and Atteng’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when they were all apprehended by the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder Rumuolumeni, and Port Harcourt on the 22nd of January, 2022 at Kilometer 45, Rivers State during an anti-bunkering operation by the Navy.
They were arrested on board Barge Kanye laden with 869,045 Litres of Automotive Gas Oil which was towed by MV. Bonny River without lawful authority to deal in petroleum products.
