By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
A Federal High Court has sentenced four suspects to prison over illegal oil bunkery in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In a court sitting presided over by Justices S.D. Pam, P. I. Ajoku, E. A. Obile and S. I. Mark, the suspects Ugweze Luke Friday, Mohammed Sani Akilu, Ibrahim Suleiman and Abubakar Musa were jailed on a one-count separate charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products.
The convicts began their Correctional Service journey when they were arrested at various locations for act without lawful authority or licence by the Anti- Bunkering Team of the 6 Division, Nigeria Army and men and officers of Nigeria Navy at Abonema Wharf.
The lone- count charge reads: “That you Mohammed Sani Akilu on or about 8th day of December, 2021 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did without appropriate authority deal in petroleum product conveyed in Mack Truck with Registration Number NSR 82 ZD and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (17) of the same Act”.
After pleading guilty to the charges, Friday, Akilu and Suleiman received sentences of two years with a fine option of N300,000, N500,000 and N400, 000 each.
While Musa was sentenced to one year imprisonment with fine option of N500,000 after their counsel pleaded the court to temper justice with mercy, stressing that, they are first-time offenders with no previous criminal records.
The Judges ordered am the Automotive Gas and petroleum products on board in trucks with registration numbers ZUR 327 ZY, NNR 210 XA and NNR 210 XA be forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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