The suspects were arrested on July 7, 2016 by operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps along the Brass River in Bayelsa while heading towards the sea on a vessel.
The names of the 16 convicts are:
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 the Captain of the vessel, Baba Mathew.
They had pleaded not guilty to the offence.
But in his ruling, the presiding judge of the Federal High Court in Calabar, Justice Inyang Ekwo, said the 16 were convicted on all the four-count charge and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Justice Ekwo said, “The 1 to 16 convicts are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment without an option of fine. They are also sentenced to 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.”
Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Richard Oyiwona, said that he would appeal against the judgment.
They had pleaded not guilty to the offence.
But in his ruling, the presiding judge of the Federal High Court in Calabar, Justice Inyang Ekwo, said the 16 were convicted on all the four-count charge and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Justice Ekwo said, “The 1 to 16 convicts are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment without an option of fine. They are also sentenced to 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.”
Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Richard Oyiwona, said that he would appeal against the judgment.
He said, “His Lordship has spoken, this is not the final court. I will go on appeal and I believe that the judgment will be set aside in the Court of Appeal.”
Prosecution counsel, Kingsley Nwachukwu, said the law had taken its course, adding that judgment will send signal to pipeline vandals and those who get involved in the products adulteration.
Prosecution counsel, Kingsley Nwachukwu, said the law had taken its course, adding that judgment will send signal to pipeline vandals and those who get involved in the products adulteration.
Good move
ReplyDeleteIsn't life imprisonment too much for the crime??? Ah! Dem kill person? And we have politicians who have done worse going scot free or going back and forth with their cases.
ReplyDeleteIsn't life imprisonment too much for the crime??? Ah! Dem kill person? And we have politicians who have done worse going scot free or going back and forth with their cases.
ReplyDeleteI read this news on punch this morning and I was really mad, why would they give them life imprisonment,when top politician that are caught one way or the other for various corruption charges, can never get such ruling.
ReplyDeleteNigeria Justice department is not fair and we can never have faith in them because they pass judgment anyhow..
#GodSaveUsAll
very good. it will serve as lesson to others
ReplyDeleteThings like this is the same as been a murderer,anything been adultrated is not safe be it diesel,kerosene it kills
ReplyDeleteCases like this always get swift judgements,but pple like Obanikoro.F F K are still roaming the streets freely after they diverted funds ment for security ..which has resulted in the loss uncountable numbers of Life and properties ...#Onesided-JusticeSystem#...
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ReplyDeleteGood for them
ReplyDeleteInteresting, they were arrested in 7 Jul, 2016 & judgment were delivered in Nov’2016 that’s a plus to judiciary but when are we going to have judgement on those that looted our treasury that still have.
ReplyDeletend dasuki nd co re walking freely....nt supporting dz ones tho....
ReplyDeleteThe law has taken its course, it wud serve as serious warning 2 all vandals
ReplyDeleteOthers will learn
ReplyDeleteServes them right.
ReplyDeleteGood one they will think twice before theye commit the act
ReplyDeletewhich kind judgement be this? Life imprisonment? Haaaaaaa! Noooo! Is too much biko. They did the wrong thing, but giving them a life sentence is also a wrong thing. Is not right.
ReplyDelete