The Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of two oil thieves with forfeiture of their vessel.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State sentenced one Olufunsho Dayo Chevy and fellow accomplice, Uwem Udo Nya on a one-count charge bordering on stealing and unlicensed dealing on petroleum products.
A vessel, MT New Angel and a company, Edi Eurolink Distribution were also ordered by the court to be forfeited to the federal government in the ruling.
They were sentenced to pay a fine of N20 million translating to N5 million each to be paid by the convicted persons, the vessel and the company into the federal government’s account.
Head, Media and publicity of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, who disclosed on Friday said the convicts were sentenced on Monday January 13, 2025, adding that nine other suspects were still at large.
The charges read: “That you, MT New Angel, Edi Eurolink Distribution, Olufunsho Dayo Chevy, Uwem Udoh Nya, Olusaneku Patrick Victor (at large), Ezie Kenneth Othuke (at large), Imo Tammy Wisdom (at large), Ege Isaiah (at large), Obanla Sunday John (at large), Asuquo Okon Iwait (at large), Yoosu Alex Aonodue (at large), Nwaigwe Kingdom (at large), Ezechukwu Stanley Nnamdi (at large), sometime in June 2024, at Calabar within the jurisdiction of this honourable court without an appropriate license issued by Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency, did deal in petroleum product (crude oil) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13(2)(b)(i) of the Petroleum Act CAP Pi0, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and punishable under the same Section.”
LEADERSHIP learnt that the suspects pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them, upon which the prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin reviewed the facts of the case, advanced evidence and urged the court to convict and sentence them as charged.
The defence counsel, Chris Okeadaka and Cyprian Afahanam, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that their clients were first-time offenders.
The convicts were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship NNS, Victory, and handed over to the EFCC on July 30, 2024.
In the same vein, Oyewale disclosed that an internet fraudster, Shedrach Johnson, a.k.a Johnny Depp was convicted and sentenced for offences bordering on internet frauds on Thursday January 16, 2025.
He recalled that Justice Maurine Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Uyo sentenced Depp to three months imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count charge bordering on identity theft, impersonation and obtaining by false pretense.
Reviewing the facts of the matter, prosecution counsel Khamis Mahmud told the court that the convict was arrested on November 23, 2024 along Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin local government area of Akwa Ibom State.
He tendered several incriminating documents printed out from his mobile device as exhibits.
Thereafter, Mahmud urged the court to convict the defendant as charged. In response, the defence counsel, Samson Awuje prayed the court for lighter jail terms for his client.
However, the judge gave the convict an option of fine of N100, 000, while forfeiting his Techno K.E.5 mobile phone.
The court also ordered that the phone be auctioned and the proceeds deposited into EFCC’s proceeds’ account.
