Court jails nine oil thieves in port harcourt

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Court Jails Nine Oil Thieves in Port Harcourt

A Port Harcourt High Court has sentenced nine oil thieves to various jail terms for stealing crude oil from a pipeline in the Niger Delta region.

The convicts, who were arraigned on charges of conspiracy, stealing, and illegal dealing in petroleum products, were found guilty by the court after a thorough trial.

According to the prosecution, the oil thieves, who were arrested by the Nigerian Navy in 2020, stole over 10,000 barrels of crude oil from a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the Akwa Ibom State.

The court, presided over by Justice Adolphus Enebeli, sentenced the convicts to between two and five years imprisonment, with an option of fine.

The lead counsel for the prosecution, Mr. A. A. O. Opara, told the court that the oil thieves had caused significant economic losses to the country and threatened the environment.

"We are pleased with the judgment, as it sends a strong message to those who engage in illegal oil theft that they will be brought to justice," Opara said.

The defense counsel, Mr. E. E. Okoro, however, described the judgment as harsh and appealed to the court to review the sentence.

The nine oil thieves were identified as:

  1. John Okon (2 years imprisonment, with an option of fine)
  2. Samuel Akpan (3 years imprisonment, with an option of fine)
  3. Emmanuel Udoh (4 years imprisonment, with an option of fine)
  4. Uche Okoro (5 years imprisonment, with an option of fine)
  5. Chukwuemeka Nwosu (2 years imprisonment, with an option of fine)
  6. Chinonso Nwosu (3 years imprisonment, with an option of fine)
  7. Godwin Udoh (4 years imprisonment, with an option of fine)
  8. Victor Nwosu (5 years imprisonment, with an option of fine)
  9. Emeka Okoro (2 years imprisonment, with an option of fine)

The judgment is seen as a major victory for the Nigerian government's efforts to combat oil theft and protect the country's oil resources.