The Head of Media and Publicity at EFCC, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Friday, confirmed that the convicts were sentenced by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu.
Two oil thieves have been convicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Uyo Zonal Command.
The zone also secured the conviction of an internet fraudster.
Olufunsho Dayo Chevy and Uwem Udo Nya were convicted for oil theft, alongside the vessel MT New Angel and the company Edi Eurolink Distribution.
They were sentenced to a fine of N20 million (twenty million naira), translating to N5 million (five million naira) each, to be paid into the federal government’s account.
The Head of Media and Publicity at EFCC, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Friday, confirmed that the convicts were sentenced by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Calabar, on Monday, January 13, 2025, on a one-count charge of stealing and unlicensed dealing in petroleum products.
Meanwhile, nine other suspects remain at large, according to the EFCC statement.
The charges read: “That you, MT New Angel, Edi Eurolink Distribution, Olufunsho Dayo Chevy, Uwem Udoh Nya, Olusaneku Patrick Victor (at large), Ezie Kenneth Othuke (at large), Imo Tammy Wisdom (at large), Ege Isaiah (at large), Obanla Sunday John (at large), Asuquo Okon Iwait (at large), Yoosu Alex Aonodue (at large), Nwaigwe Kingdom (at large), Ezechukwu Stanley Nnamdi (at large), sometime in June 2024, at Calabar, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did deal in petroleum products (crude oil) without an appropriate license issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13(2)(b)(i) of the Petroleum Act CAP Pi0, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and punishable under the same Section.”
Oyewale said the convicts pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them, after which prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin, reviewed the facts of the case, presented evidence, and urged the court to convict and sentence them as charged. Defence counsel Chris Okeadaka and Cyprian Afahanam requested the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that their clients were first-time offenders.
The convicts were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Victory and handed over to the EFCC on July 30, 2024.
Oyewale also disclosed the conviction and sentence of internet fraudster Shedrach Johnson (aka. Johnny Depp) for offences related to internet fraud on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Justice Maurine Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Uyo, convicted and sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to one count of identity theft, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretence.
Prosecution counsel Khamis Mahmud informed the court that the convict was arrested on November 23, 2024, along Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He presented several incriminating documents from the convict’s mobile device as evidence.
Mahmud urged the court to convict the defendant as charged. In response, defence counsel Samson Awuje requested a lighter sentence for his client.
The judge, however, gave the convict the option of paying a fine of N100,000 (one hundred thousand naira) while forfeiting his Techno K.E.5 mobile phone. The judge also ordered that the phone be auctioned, with the proceeds deposited into the EFCC proceeds account.