The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has convicted and sentenced nine people arrested in connection with crude oil theft to 10 years in prison.
Justice Joy Ikpeme delivered the judgment on Monday, September 14, finding the nine defendants guilty on two counts of conspiracy and tampering with an oil pipeline, contrary to Section 1(7) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The court sentenced each of the convicts to five years’ imprisonment on the first count and 10 years on the second count, with no option of a fine. Justice Ikpeme ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning each convict will serve a maximum prison term of 10 years under the judgment.
The nine convicts were among 19 people arrested earlier in the year following an intelligence-led operation involving the Nigerian Navy and the Department of State Services. They were caught stealing crude oil from an oil wellhead identified as ASABO-D in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Reacting to the judgment, a security source described the convictions as part of continuing efforts by the Nigerian Navy to combat crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in Nigeria’s maritime and riverine areas.
“The conviction marks another milestone in the Navy’s sustained campaign against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities along Nigeria’s maritime and riverine areas, which have continued to drain the nation’s oil revenue and damage the environment in host communities,” the security source said.
