Oil Theft: 9 foreigners, 2 Nigerians sent to Prison

For engaging in oil theft, Justice J.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has sent nine foreigners and two Nigerians to prison.

The suspects identified as Mohammed Ejaz,  Naseer Khan (Pakistani), Oleksandr Nazarenko, Oleksandr kashernvi (Ukrainians), Romeo Annang, Francis Ahorlu, Kwesi Attah( Ghanaians), Victor Mikpayi (Beninois ), Fredrik Fatin Omenu (Indonesian),  Victor Azebiri, David Otuhohi (Nigerians) and a  Company: Asztral Shipping Corporation SA, and a  Vessel, MT. TECNE (a.k.a MT STAR), were remanded for a four-count charge.

National Daily recalls that trouble started for the suspects when their ship was intercepted by the NNS DELTA on 25 April, 2017 at Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC),  Afremo ‘A’ Terminal, South East of Escravos in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State,  for illegal loading of petroleum products suspected to be crude oil.

It was further gathered that the crew members connived with Victor Azeberi (the 1^st defendant); one Peter Ala and David Ogoma alias Ambassador, who are now at large,  to siphon about 1905.836 cubic litres of crude oil.

The judge explained that their remand at the Port Harcourt Prisons was necessary pending their arraignment and hearing bordering on conspiracy, dealing in petroleum products without a license and tampering with oil pipelines.

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At the commencement of proceedings for their arraignment during the week, Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Kayode Oni, brought before the court an ex-parte application seeking the leave of the court to hear the defendants’ charge filed during the annual vacation of the court which was granted by the judge.

The counsel to the 2^nd -11^th defendants, Abiye Atorudibo, however, notified the court that the 5^th, 6^th and 11th defendants who are Ukranians and Indonesians are not proficient in English language and requested that the prosecution provide interpreters for the accused persons.

In response, Oni asked for a short adjournment to get interpreters for some of the foreigners and remand the defendants in prison as the EFCC’s cell was congested.

Justice Omotoso, consequently, adjourned the matter to 6th September, 2017 for arraignment and hearing.

He ordered that the prosecution provide interpreters for the accused persons and remanded the defendants in Port Harcourt prison.

National Daily learnt that the ship on which the suspects were arrested allegedly had no clearance from relevant Nigerian maritime agencies to navigate in Nigerian waters and all the foreign crew on board the ship had no valid documents to enter Nigeria.