19 Suspected Crude Oil Thieves Docked In Akwa Ibom

Nineteen suspected crude oil thieves are facing trial in Akwa Ibom State, following the arraignment of two additional suspects by the Department of State Services, DSS.

The two suspects, Arepade Dominic Ekprese and Benson Ekiokekeme Innocent, were arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Uyo yesterday.

The court declined jurisdiction to hear the case, citing the gravity of the alleged offence and relevant provisions of the Constitution.

It, however, ordered that the suspects be remanded at the Uyo Medium Correctional Facility for 21 days.

The DSS is understood to have approached the Magistrate’s Court for the remand order because the Federal High Court in Uyo, which has jurisdiction over the case, is currently on recess.

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The suspects are expected to face trial before the Federal High Court when it resumes in September.

The case dates back to 9 April, when a joint operation by the Joint Task Force South South, Operation Delta Safe, led to the arrest of 26 crew members and the seizure of two motorised tankers, MT Westaf and MT Mkpodu.

The vessels were allegedly caught siphoning crude oil from a platform operated by a major oil company off the coast of Akwa Ibom.
Seventeen of the suspects and the two vessels had earlier been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Uyo and remanded at the Uyo Medium Security Correctional Centre.

Security sources say the arrests are part of ongoing intelligence-led operations across the Niger Delta aimed at tackling crude oil theft and increasing Nigeria’s oil production and foreign exchange earnings.