Three judges of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have sentenced five oil thieves to different jail terms.
The ‘oil thieves’ Noel Akpan; Digie Global Marine Services; MT Europort, MV Sea Rich and Obinna Onyeneho Kenneth were all convicted for illegal dealing in petroleum products.
According to a statement on the official website of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while Noel Akpan, Digie Global Marine Services and a vessel, MT Europoort were convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment each by Justice S. Pam on July 22, 2021, Justice P. M. Ayuba convicted and sentenced a Vessel, MV Sea Rich to three years imprisonment on July 16, 2021, while Justice E.A. Obile convicted and sentenced Obinna Onyeneho Kenneth to three years imprisonment on June 30, 2021.
The EFCC had originally arraigned the trio of Akpan, Global Marine Services and Europort on June 6, 2017, and they pleaded “not guilty” to three-count charges bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products. However, they later changed their pleas to “guilty” on July 22, 2021.
Noel Akpan
One of the charges against them read: “That you Noel Akpan ( a.k.a. Ughaeze Chibuzo Valentine) and others at large on about the 2nd day of June, 2015, around Forupa Waterways, Bayelsa State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did conspire to commit felony, to wit: adulteration of 1,500 metric tonnes of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) loaded into M.T. Europoort and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 (6) of Miscellaneous Act CAP 10 M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under 1 (18) if the same Act”
Another charge read: “That you Noel Akpan, a.k.a Ughaeze Chibuzo Valentine, Digie Global Marine Services Ltd, and others now at large, on or about the 2nd day of June 2015 around Forupa Waterways, Bayelsa State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court engaged in adulteration of 1,500 metric tons of Automotive Gas Oil, (AGO) loaded into MT Europoort and thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 1 (18) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revers Editions (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (18) of the Act”
Based on their pleas of “guilty”, the prosecuting counsel, F.O. Amama, prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. The defence counsel, C.J. Nmerem, did not oppose the prayer of the prosecution.
Justice Pam convicted and sentenced Akpan to two years imprisonment, which will run concurrently, with an option of a fine of N1 million. He also convicted Digie Marine Global Services and MT Europort to a fine of N1 million and N3 million respectively which will be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Government.
The judge also ordered that the product onboard MT Europort be sold by the Chief Registrar of the Court and the proceeds paid also into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Government and evidence of payment filed in court.
In another court, Justice P.M. Ayuba convicted and sentenced MV Sea Rich to three years imprisonment. The vessel was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products
The charge read: “That you MV SEA RICH on or about the first April 2017 around El-Totuama Boat Yard Waterside in Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this honorable court dealt in petroleum products to wit: Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) which was not of the quality expected of such product and thereby Committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (18) (a) (ii) of the Miscellaneous offences Act, CAP M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.
The vessel, represented by Sebastine Godwin, pleaded “guilty” to the lone charge preferred against it. In view of the plea of “guilty” by the defendant, prosecuting Counsel F. C. Obinwa, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly. Counsel to the defendant, James Allen prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, stressing that “he is a first-time offender and has no previous criminal records”.
Justice Ayuba convicted and sentenced the vessel to three years in Correctional Service with an option of a fine of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) payable into the Federal Government’s Account.
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