From: Judex Okoro, Calabar
A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday sentenced 16 persons to life imprisonment for adulterating about 100 tonnes of diesel. The vessel used was also forfeited to the Federal Government.
The case was instituted by the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) along the Brass River as they were headed towards the sea in Bayelsa State on a vessel, MV ALEZZA LILAH. They were arrested on July 7, 2016.
In the charge sheet, suspects were accused of among others of conspiracy and adulteration which is contrary to sections 1 (17) and (18) (a) and (i) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap, M17 LFN 2004 and punishable under the sections.
Those convicted even as they had initially pleaded not guilty to the offence, include Egbayo Charles, Lawrence Sosoo, Iboho Allen, Obiora Sunday, Akpan Wisdom, Isaac Essien, Kingsley Anighoro, Simeon Ohinomado, Ime Ubong, Joseph Thomas, Nseh Obot, Second Philip, Unubiri Prebai, Emmanuel Abel, Edmund Okoye and captain of the vessel, Baba Matthew.
Ruling in the matter, Justice Inyang Ekwo, said the 16 accused persons were convicted on the four count charge and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Justice Ekwo said: “Number One to 16 convicts are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment without an option of fine. They are also sentenced eight and 10 years respectively for the first two counts. All the sentences are to run concurrently, while the vessel and all there are is forfeited to the Federal Government.”
Their lawyer, Mr. Richard Oyiwona, said that he would appeal against the judgment.