Court Jails Pipeline Vandals Five Years

by Deji Abiodun

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 16, 2015, secured another conviction, as the duo of Ugochuku Obi and Markel Daniel were sentenced to five years imprisonment without an option of fine by Justice M. A Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media & Publicity, in a statement issued 18th March, 2015, said the convicts, were prosecuted on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and felony, following their arrest by officers of the Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) during a joint operation with the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, River State.

Count one reads: ‘’That you Ugochuku Obi and Markel Daniel on or about the 9th day of October, 2010 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire with each other to commit felony to wit: Tampering with oil pipeline and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 1(7) (b) of the same Act.”

Count two reads: “ That you , Ugochuku Obi and Markel Daniel, on or about the 9th day of October, 2010 at the SPDC Right of Way, Off Eneka Road, Igwuruta within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, wilfully and maliciously damaged and destroyed Well 2, Agbada II Flow Station of the SPDC facility, thereby tampering with the free flows of the crude oil and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (7) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act, 2007 and punishable under section 1(7) of the same Act.”

They were, however, convicted only on count one for tampering with oil pipelines.