Nigeria docks 11 suspects in oil theft

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has charged 11 persons on suspicions of illegal dealing in petroleum products at a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State .

The 11 accused persons are Isiaka Edeleye, John B. Kpalam, Adedotun Awofidipe, Harris Usanga, Gilbert Eborty, Solomon Monday, Abang Jacob Ekwo, Adedayo Akinyoade, Victor Ekpe, Ernest Okon Ati and Inwang Akabio.

They were arrested on board vessel MT AEGLE with 200 metric tons of petroleum product suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) bunkered from EX MT Mercy II into MT AEGLE.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them and were granted bail by Justice C. E. Archibong in the sum of N1million and one surety each in like sum.

While adjourning the case to November 30, 2012, for commencement of trial, the Judge ordered that the accused persons be remanded in EFCC custody for seven days and thereafter be transferred to Ahoada prison, if they are still unable to meet their bail condition.

The accused persons were handed over to the EFCC on September 20, 2012, after their arrest on May 4, 2012, by officers of the NNS Pathfinder, Nigerian Navy, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt .

The purported owner of the product, Akpabio Inwang was later arrested by the operatives of the Commission on September 24, 2012, in Calabar, Cross River State .