Lagos court sentences 11 oil thieves

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos has sentenced 11 oil thieves to jail.

The court presided over by Justice Rilwan Aikawa sentenced the thieves alongside their Vessel, MT Jonko, on Thursday March 19.

The convicts were dragged before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), Lagos zonal office.

They are Umoh Akaninyene Clement, Moses Ogbodu, Ignatius Okereke, Valentine Amaegberi, Victor Egbowon, Emmanuel Bassey, Ademola Olasode, Sule Godwin Anyebe, Oyelami Akeem Oloyede, Otuagoma Emmanuel and Anthony Orhieoghenebruru.

Justice Aikawa found them guilty on all three counts and sentenced each one to one year imprisonment on each count.

The sentence is to take effect from their day of arrest. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of a vessel, MT Jonko, laden with 450 Metric tons of crude oil to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Judge also imposed a fine of six hundred thousand Naira (N600,000. 00) on each of the convicts.

The convicts were first arraigned on three counts of illegal oil dealing on March 4, 2020 and they pleaded not guilty to the charge.

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However, at Thursday’s sitting, the defence counsel, O.J. Aruwayo informed the court that his clients will like to change their plea.

The charge was read to them and they all pleaded guilty.

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