Posted by Chinenye on Tue 15th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
A court in Akwa Ibom has handed down a tough punishment to nine people found guilty of stealing crude oil and interfering with an oil pipeline.
(The Suspects. Photo by TheCable)
A Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has found nine of nineteen suspects guilty of crude oil th+ft and handed them prison sentences.
Justice Joy Ikpeme convicted them on two counts conspiracy and tampering with an oil pipeline under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The court sentenced each convict to five years for the first count and ten years for the second count, with no possibility of paying a fine instead.
The sentences will run at the same time, meaning the nine will serve a total of ten years in prison.
The suspects were arrested earlier this year during an intelligence-led operation by the Nigerian Navy and a security agency.
They were caught ste@ling crude oil from the ASABO-D oil well head in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
According to security officials, the conviction represents another success in the Navy's campaign against crude oil th+ft and illegal bunkering across Nigeria's waters and rivers, activities that have caused significant revenue losses and environmental harm to local communities.