Home Crime & Metro Uyo court sends two oil thieves, vessel to jail for crude oil theft
Crime & Metro - 3 weeks ago

Uyo court sends two oil thieves, vessel to jail for crude oil theft

 

 

Stanley Ihedigbo

 

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Calabar, convicted and sentenced Olufunsho Dayo Chevy, Uwem Udo Nya, to various jail terms for oil theft alongside a vessel, MT New Angel, and a company, Edi Eurolink Distribution.

According to the Head of Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Dele Oyewale, they were prosecuted by the Uyo Directorate of the commission on a one-count charge that verged on stealing and unlicensed dealing in petroleum products.

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.”

The convicts pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them, upon which prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin reviewed the facts of the case, advanced evidence, and urged the court to convict and sentence them as charged, while defence counsel, Chris Okeadaka and Cyprian Afahanam prayed the court to temper justice with mercy arguing that their clients were first-time offenders.

Justice Ojukwu sentenced them to a fine of N20 million, translating to N5 million each, to be paid into the federal government’s account.

The convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Victory, and handed over to the EFCC on July 30, 2024.

Relatedly, The Uyo Directorate of the EFCC also secured a conviction and sentence of an internet fraudster, Shedrach Johnson(a.k.a Johnny Depp), for offences bordering on internet fraud on Thursday, January 16, 2025.

Justice Maurine Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Uyo, convicted and sentenced him to three months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a one-count charge bordering on identity theft, impersonation, and obtaining by pretense.

The lone count charge reads ‘That you Shadrach Johnson Idisi(aka Johnny Depp, Jennifer Lopez), sometime in 2023 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently presented yourself as “Johnny Depp and Jennifer Lopez on the Social Media platform (Facebook) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b) () of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Amendment Act 2024 and punishable under Section 22(b) (iv) of the Same Act’.

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 Enon 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 a fine of N100,000.00 and ordered the forfeiture of his Techno K.E.5 mobile phone. He also ordered that the phone be auctioned and the proceeds deposited into EFCC’s proceeds account.

Johnson was arrested for internet fraud, prosecuted, and convicted.

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