11 remanded in prison after pleading not guity to petroleum pipeline vandalism

by Rachel Ogbu

kogi_suspects

11 men charged with petroleum pipeline vandalism and stealing about 220 drums of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) worth N5.3m were remanded after a Federal High Court order on Thursday, February 7.

According to reports, after the accused; Sidi Egbayelo, Sunday Shedrack, Edem Okon, Kofa Godwin, Rosemon Neito, Ejona Kpamkpam, Moses Victor, Christopher Sunday, Peter Tay, Remon Uchugwu and Mike Sabato pleaded not guilty to the four counts contained in the charge, Justice Musa Kurya made the order that they remanded in Ikoyi Prisons.

On December 21, 2012, they had allegedly vandalised petroleum pipeline owned by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation at Atlas Cove area of Lagos. The court will rule on their bail application February 11 but they are to stay in custody till then.

The Punch reports:

The prosecutor, Justin Enang, had urged the court to refuse the accused bail on the grounds that the offences they we’re charged with was tantamount to economic sabotage which attract “serious sanctions”.

Enang argued that the accused were likely to jump bail if their applications were granted.

“The offences border on the economy of this nation and carries severe punishment,” he said.

The defence counsel, McAnthony Aikharialea, had said he would ensure a reliable surety was put forward to guarantee that the accused were always in court to attend their trial.

He said his clients, whom he claimed were “ordinary fishermen” were arrested by the police patrol team while at their duty post on the sea.

He said the accused were never near the piplines as of the time of their arrest, maintaining that they will not jump bail if released.

Aikharialea said, “They have assured me that they will always be in court. They are not guilty of the offence they are accused of. They are ordinary fishermen arrested in the sea by the patrol team while they were fishing on their boats. They knew nothing about the accusation and were never seen near the pipelines.”

The prosecutor said the accused “within the jurisdiction of the court tampered with petroleum pipeline, property of the NNPC and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.

He said the alleged offence is punishable under Section 390 of Criminal Code, Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecutor also accused them of unlawfully dealing in petroleum products without appropriate authority.

 

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