Armed Forces Seize Alleged Oil Bunkers From Police Custody, IGP Testifies In Court

Armed Forces Seize Alleged Oil Bunkers From Police Custody, IGP Testifies In Court

The revelation was made by Idris Mohammed, the legal representative of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to Justice James Omotosho during the summoning of alleged oil bunkerers in response to a five-count criminal charge against them………CONTINUE READING

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In a prior charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/60/2024, the IGP listed 19 accused oil bunkerers for prosecution. The first ten defendants include MT Harbor Spirit, Muhammad Malik Sidique, Joju Oil and Gas Ltd, Shittu Joseph, Enudi Kenneth Amechi, Jeremiah Oberhiri Nyohe, Abiodun Kolapo Joseph, Razaq Mahmud, Onwe Jonas Egana, and Jeremiah Fezighe Gilbert. The 11th to 19th defendants are Idon Simeon Amon, Adedeji Nathaniel Thomson, Effiong Ekpo Otu, Preye Moses Egbuson, Opoufoni Owei, Abiodun Razaq, Youngstar Amon, Collins Ebuka Eluche, and Taiye Rashid Balogun. The charges, filed on February 15, were later revised on February 28.

In the amended charge, only MT Harbor Spirit, a Vessel, Muhammad Malik Sidique, and Joju Oil and Gas Ltd were charged as the first to third defendants, respectively.

Count one in the revised charge alleged that on February 4, 2024, in the Deep Sea in Ogbogoro Oil Field, Brass Area of Bayelsa State, MT Harbor Spirit, Muhammad Malik Sidique, Joju Oil and Gas Ltd, and the 4th to 19th defendants conspired to tamper with oil pipelines for the transportation of crude oil, punishable under Section 1(7) of the Miscellaneous Offenses Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Count two accused the defendants of willfully tampering with OML 59, Ogbogoro 001 Oil Field, on the same date and location.

Count three charged the defendants with trafficking about 80,000 liters of crude oil without proper authorization or legal authority.

In count five, the defendants were accused of unlawfully storing approximately 80,000 liters of crude oil in MT Harbour Spirit Cargo Tanks in the Deep Sea at Ogbogoro Oil Field without the proper license, according to Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap P10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Idris Mohammed, representing the IGP, informed the judge that only Muhammad Malik Sidique was present, claiming that the military forcibly removed the 4th through 19th defendants from their custody during a visit. He requested an arrest warrant for the fugitive defendants.

Judge Omotosho criticized Mohammed for contradicting himself and clarified the term “at large” as referring to individuals whose whereabouts are unknown. The judge instructed the prosecution to serve the charges to the military custody and bring the defendants or remove their names from the charge sheet. The IGP’s counsel then clarified that the police forcibly removed the defendants from their care, not handing them over to the military.

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