Tuesday, September 15, 2026 - The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has convicted and sentenced nine out of 19 persons arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) for crude oil theft.
Delivering judgment on Monday, the presiding Judge, Justice Joy
Ikpeme, found the convicts guilty on two count-charge of conspiracy and
tampering with oil pipeline, contrary to Section 1(7) of the Miscellaneous
Offences Act.
The judge consequently sentenced the convicts to five years
imprisonment on count one and ten years on count two, with no option of fine.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
Recall that, the convicts, alongside 10 other suspects were
arrested earlier in the year, following an intelligence-led operation by the
Nigerian Navy and the DSS.
During the operation, the suspects were caught stealing crude oil
from an oil well head identified as ASABO-D, located in Ibeno Local Government
Area of the state.
‘”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,” a
security source declared.
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