Ladipo Sanusi/
Twelve persons were handed 22 years imprisonment today for the theft of petroleum products.
A Federal High Court in Lagos found the convicts guilty of stealing 600,000 metric tonnes of Automated Gasoline Oil, popularly called Diesel.
Justice Mohammed Idris also ordered that the vessel used in carrying the product, MV PSV Deby, and the petroleum product be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convicts are: Christopher Okorie, John U Mbah, Tammy Bami, Osi Prince, Chukwuji Festus, Kabiru Adeyemo, Ayannubi Moses, Sopuruchukwu Chukwudi, Obinna Ebu, Abdullahi Oyelade, Charles Ubey and Achia Vincent.
They were convicted alongside two limited liability companies: Phonic Marines Services Limited and Banquet Chambers Nigeria Limited, also the vessel MV PSV Deby.
All the convicts were charged before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sometimes in October 2015, on charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful dealing in petroleum product without appropriate licence.
The offences according to the prosecution are contrary to sections 3(6) and 1(17) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, law of the Federation of Nigeria 2014, and punishable under the same Act.
During the trial, EFCC through its lawyer, Ekene Iheanacho, called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits which includes sample of the stolen petroleum product. While the convicts had also testified before the court.
Justice Idris ruled that the prosecution have been able to prove its case against the defendants.
He added that all the defence put up by the convicts failed to puncture the evidence of the prosecution.
The judge also stated that all the convicts, who had claimed not knowing that the vessel operated without appropriate licence, and the petroleum product was stolen, said they could not claim to be onlookers, but main actors in the crime, since they all participated in loading products into the vessel from Port-Harcourt, and followed the vessel to Lagos, where it was to be discharged before they were all arrested.
Justice Idris consequently found all the convicts guilty in each of the counts as charged.
Prior to the sentencing, various counsels representing each of the convicts pleaded that the court should temper justice with mercy in sentencing their clients.
The also pleaded that the convicts were first time offenders, who were also various breadwinners of their families.
Following the pleas for mercy made by various counsels to the convicts, Justice Idris sentenced all the convicts to five years imprisonment in the counts.
He sentenced Christopher Okorie and John U Mbah in counts three and four.
The judge also ordered that the jail terms shall run concurrently.
Count one of the charge against the convicts reads: “That you Christopher Okorie, Phonic Marines Services Limited, MV PSV DEBY, John U. Mbah, Banquet Chambers Nigeria Limited, Prince Idowu Ilara (at large), Tammy Bami, Osi Prince, Chukwuji Festus, Kabiru Adeyemo, Ayannubi Moses, Sopuruchukwu Chukwudi, Obinna Ebu, Abdullahi Oyelade, Charles Ubey and Achia Vincent between July and September 2015, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit, dealing in petroleum products without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, law of the Federation of Nigeria 2014 and punishable under Section 1(17) (a) of the same Act.”
Count two says: “That you Christopher Okorie, Phonic Marines Services Limited, MV PSV DEBY, John U. Mbah, Banquet Chambers Nigeria Limited, Prince Idowu Ilara (at large), Tammy Bami, Osi Prince, Chukwuji Festus, Kabiru Adeyemo, Ayannubi Moses, Sopuruchukwu Chukwudi, Obinna Ebu, Abdullahi Oyelade, Charles Ubey and Achia Vincent between August and September, 2015 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did without lawful authority store 600,000 litres of Petroleum Product (Automotive Gas and Oil) in MV PSV DEBY and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(17) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
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