Court Remands 10 Over Petroleum Pipeline Vandalism

A Federal High Court
in Lagos, on Tuesday remanded 10 men in prison custody for alleged vandalism of petroleum pipeline.
The accused are: Godwin German, 36; Endurance Ibingha, 20; Tamarami Tunwa, 23; Baruwa Abiola, 35; Adeleke Lukman, 34; Emmanuel Ayadi, 46 and Promise Sajum, 2.
Others are Able Ekeoba, 20, Seighabor Coolman, 30; Ayawei Ayadi, 28.
They are standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, malicious damage of oil pipeline, illegal tampering of pipeline and dealing in petroleum products without licence.
However, the 10 accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Mohammed Idris, consequently remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case to Feb. 12, 2015, to rule on their bail application.
The Prosecutor, Mr Justin Enang, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Oct. 16, at 5.00 a.m, at Ibafo and Ikorodu areas of Ogun and Lagos states respectively.
Enang said that the accused persons and others still at large tampered with petroleum pipeline.
He said that the accused also willfully and maliciously damaged petroleum pipeline at Arepo, which was for the transportation of refined oil.
The prosecutor said that the accused tampered with the free flow of refined petroleum product through the petroleum pipeline.
He also said that the accused illegally dealt in petroleum products without appropriate license.
The prosecutor said that the offences committed contravened Sections 3 (6), 7 (a) (b), and 17 (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M 17, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
Mr Awoje Alake, the counsel to the accused told the court that he would file the bail application.