Oil Thieves, Cyber-criminal Convited In Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom State Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of two oil thieves and forfeiture of their vessel.

Those sentenced included one Olufunsho Dayo Chevy and an accomplice, Uwem Udo Nya, alongside a vessel, MT New Angel and a company, Edi Eurolink Distribution.

They were fined N20 million, translating to N5 million each, to be paid into the federal government’s account.

The head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, who disclosed this on Friday said the convicts were sentenced by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Calabar, on a one-count charge bordering on stealing and unlicensed dealing on petroleum products, adding that nine other suspects were still at large.

“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 the 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,” the charge read.

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The convicts, LEADERSHIP Weekend learnt, 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, while the defence counsel, Chris Okeadaka and Cyprian Afahanam, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that their clients were first-time offenders.

It was gathered that the convicts were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship NNS, Victory, and handed over to the EFCC on July 30, 2024.

Also, Oyewale disclosed the conviction and sentencing of an internet fraudster, Shedrach Johnson, AKA Johnny Depp, for offences bordering on internet frauds on Thursday, January 16, 2025.

He recalled that Justice Maurine Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Uyo, convicted and sentenced him to three months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to one-count charge bordering on identity theft, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

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 LGA 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.

The judge gave the convict an option of N100,000 fine, while forfeiting his Techno K.E.5 mobile phone. He also ordered that the phone be auctioned and the proceeds deposited into EFCC’s proceeds’ account.