How Benin Court Sends Three Oil Thieves to Jail

Justice I. M. Sani of the Federal High Court, Warri on Tuesday May 21, 2024 convicted and sentenced the trio of John Ofuafo Stanley, Ogba Joseph and Samson E. Ogbevire to various jail terms for illegally dealing in petroleum products.

They were jailed after pleading guilty to a two-count charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products alongside a vessel, TUG MV STEPH-1 upon arraignment by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

One of the charge reads: That You JOHN OFUAFO STANLEY, OGBA JOSEPH and SAMSON .E. OGBEVIRE on or about the 6th July, 2023 at KFT Yard Edjeba, along NPA express way, Warri South Local Government of Delta State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: dealt in petroleum product to wit; unspecified quantity of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) which is not of a quality expected of the product and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition), 2004 and punishable under section 1 (18)(a)(i) of the same Act.

The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them in court, prompting the prosecution counsel,  Francis Jirbo to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.  However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as they have become remorseful for their actions.

Justice Sani convicted and sentenced Stanley,  Joseph and Ogbevire to two years imprisonment for each of the two counts or an option of N300,000 on each of the counts.

 The judge also convicted the 4th defendant,  (TUG MV STEPH 1) to a fine of  N4,000, 0000 ( Four Million Naira million Naira only) in lieu of its final forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC.

The convicts’road to prison began following their arrest by officers of the Nigeria Navy Ship Delta, NNS Delta for illegal dealing in Petroleum products.  They were handed over to the Commission on November 21  2023 for further investigation and possible prosecution. 

Source: EFCC

EFCC’s Position on Malabu Oil Fraud Case and Associated Issues

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced a review of developments around the Malabu OPL 245 fraud case, including the dismissal of the charges against a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke by a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja and the conduct of the prosecuting counsel, Offem Uket

 The review will entail exploration of the option of appeal and possible change of counsel in view of the Commission's dissatisfaction with the handling of the case by Uket

Nevertheless, this intention has no nexus whatsoever to the spew of speculations imputing compromise by parties to the charge, currently making the rounds in some sections of the media

 EFCC is not obliged to embrace such narratives as it neither accused any of the parties of any unsavoury conduct nor made any conclusive statements about any investigation on the matter.

 The public is enjoined to ignore effusions of mischief makers on the matter and await the next course of actions

Source: EFCC 

How EFCC Grills 10 Suspected Oil Thieves in Uyo

The Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, has commenced investigation of ten suspected illegal dealers in petroleum products, who were arrested onboard a ship loaded with 100 metric tonnes of petroleum product without an appropriate licence

The ten suspects were arrested on board MT Queen Hansal Ship and handed over to the Command by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State, along with 100 metric tons of petroleum product

While handing over the arrested suspects and exhibits to the EFCC, the Naval handing over Captain Uche Aneke said the Navy will continue to perform its duty and ensure that the Akwa Ibom State and its environment remained unfavourable for oil thieves

'The vessel MT Queen Hansal was involved in suspicious activities along Exxol Mobil oil field at position Lat 04'12' 956 N, Long 007'40' 186 'E' by switching off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) such  that the Nigerian Navy in its task arrested the ship, so the vessel and the 10 crew members were arrested by NNS OJI on December 28, 2023 during inspection and brought to base on December 30, 2023", he sai

Receiving the suspects and the products from on behalf of the EFCC, Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, DSE Ayuba Zira thanked the Navy and assured  that a thorough investigation would  be conducted and culpable suspects prosecuted accordingly. 'We want to assure the public that the EFCC is going to investigate this conclusively and everyone found culpable will face justice. The Command will continue to work with the Navy to sanitize our oil industry and waterways", he sai

Source: EFCC