Follow Us on Google
By John Ogunsemore
A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State has convicted and sentenced the duo of Olufunsho Dayo Chevy and Uwem Udo Nya to various jail terms for oil theft alongside a vessel, MT New Angel and a company, Edi Eurolink Distribution.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed this in a statement released on Monday, January 20.
The convicts were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory and handed over to the EFCC for prosecution on July 30, 2024.
The Uyo Directorate of EFCC prosecuted the convicts on a one-count charge bordering on stealing and unlicensed dealing in petroleum products.
The charges reads: “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 without an appropriate license issued by Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency, did deal in petroleum product (crude oil) 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.”
The convicts pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them, upon which prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin reviewed the facts of the case, advanced evidence and urged the court to convict and sentence them as charged, while defence counsel, Chris Okeadaka and Cyprian Afahanam prayed the court to temper justice with mercy arguing that their clients were first-time offenders.
Justice Ojukwu sentenced the four convicts to a fine of N20million, translating to N5million each, to be paid into the Federal Government’s account.
Similarly, an internet fraudster, Shedrach Johnson, was on January 16, 2025, convicted and sentenced for offences bordering on internet fraud upon prosecution by the Uyo Directorate of the EFCC, also secured a conviction and sentence.
Other News
Johnson, who claimed to be famous American actor Johnny Depp and singer Jennifer Lopez, was sentenced to three months imprisonment by Justice Maurine Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Uyo.
The convict pleaded guilty to a one-count charge bordering on identity theft, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
The lone count charge reads ‘That you SHADRACH JOHNSON IDISI “M” (aka Johnny Depp, Jennifer Lopez), sometime in 2023 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently presented yourself as “Johnny Depp and Jennifer Lopez on the Social Media platform (Facebook) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b) () of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Amendment Act 2024 and punishable under Section 22(b) (iv) of the Same Act’.
Reviewing the facts of the matter, prosecution counsel Khamis Mahmud told the court that the convict was arrested on November 23, 2024 along Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enon Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
After tendering several incriminating documents printed out from the convict’s mobile device as exhibits, Mahmud urged the court to convict the defendant as charged.
In response, the defence counsel, Samson Awuje prayed the court for a lighter sentence.
However, the judge gave the convict an option of fine of N100,000 and ordered the forfeiture of his Tecno K.E.5 mobile phone.
The judge also ordered that the phone be auctioned, and the proceeds deposited into EFCC’s proceeds account.
