Court jails three oil thieves in Rivers

The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced three oil thieves to three-month community service for illegal dealing in petroleum products.

 

The convicts, Illiyasu Ibrahim, Mallam Shehu Idris and Mohammed Bello were jailed after they pleaded “guilty” to one- count separate charges bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products.

 

The convicts were arraigned by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) according to a statement signed on Wednesday by the commission’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren.

 

After reading their charge in the court presided over by Justices S. D. Pam and A. T. Mohammed, they pleaded guilty.

 

The prosecution lawyer, N. A. Dodo, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

 

Defence counsel: M. M. Suleiman prayed the court to temper justice with mercy “for they are first -time offenders and have no previous criminal records.”

 

Justice Pam convicted and sentenced Illiyasu Ibrahim, Idris and Bello to three-month community service with an option of fine of N50, 000, each.

 

Both Judges ordered that the illegally- refined Automotive Gas Oil( AGO) stored in 23 jerry cans be sold by the court in conjunction with EFCC officials and the proceeds paid into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Government.

 

The convicts were arrested by operatives of the EFCC, acting on some intelligence, on September 6, 2021 at Ahoada Local Government Area of Rivers State at the scene where several bunkered petroleum products were assembled and sold, along the road to trucks and vehicles.