Oil Theft: Nine Foreigners Bag Five Years Jail Term

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry-Banigo (right), being welcomed by the Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Rivers State chapter, Col Wilberforce Josiah (left), during the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Port Harcourt. With them is Secretary to the State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani. Photo: Nwuveh Donatus Ken

Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday convicted and sentenced nine foreigners alongside their vessel for illegal oil bunkering.
The convicts, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on June 18, 2015, were found guilty on a four-count charge that bordered on conspiracy and illegal oil bunkering.
The convicts are five Bangladeshi and four Filipinos.
They are Axel Joseph Gibo Jabone, M.D  Zahirul  Islam, Juanto Camireno Infantado, Suarin Fernando Alave, Gatila Jaypee Gadayan, Islam Shahinul, Islam Rafiqul, Shaikh Shibli Nomany and Rolando Jose Comendador.
The vessel is  MT Asteris.
Justice Buba found the nine persons guilty on a four-count charge and accordingly convicted and sentenced them to five years imprisonment on each of the count.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
However, Justice Buba gave each of the convicts an option of N20 million fine on the four counts.
Justice Buba also ordered that the vessel, MT Asteris, and the cargo on board be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
MT Asteris and the crew members were intercepted by the Nigerian Navy ship Beecroft during a routine operation in the Nigerian waters on March 28, 2015, with 3423.097 Metric Tons of crude oil without lawful authority or appropriate licence, an offence contrary to Section 1 (19)(6)of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation  of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 17 of the same Act.
Upon interception, the captain of the vessel claimed that the vessel was not carrying any product, but further investigation by the EFCC revealed that the vessel was carrying petroleum product without the relevant documents indicating where the products were lifted and the destination.
In a related development, Justice Buba also convicted and sentenced Alakinde Wale and Boniface Onuabuchi to two years imprisonment on a five count charge bordering on conspiracy and dealing in petroleum products without lawful authority.
The convicts were said to have in June 2014 conspired among themselves to commit an offence of dealing in premium motor spirit without lawful authority or appropriate licence.
Justice Buba also gave the convicts an option of N500,000 fine on each of the five count, ordered that the vessel, MV Zahra, and the cargo on board be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.