Nigeria sentences nine individuals to 10 years for crude oil theft

The Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced nine individuals to a maximum of 10 years in prison for their involvement in crude oil theft and pipeline tampering. Justice Joy Ikpeme delivered the judgment after finding the defendants guilty of conspiracy and tampering with an oil pipeline, violations of Section 1(7) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

The convicts received a five-year sentence for the first count and a 10-year sentence for the second count. The judge ruled that the sentences would run concurrently, meaning the maximum term served will be 10 years. Notably, the court denied the defendants the option of paying a fine in lieu of imprisonment.

The arrests were the result of an intelligence-led operation conducted by the Nigerian Navy and the Department of State Services (DSS). The suspects were intercepted while allegedly stealing crude oil from the ASABO-D oil wellhead in the Ibeno Local Government Area. This operation is part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal bunkering and oil theft, which impact national revenue and the environment.