The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the military forcefully took away some suspects allegedly involved in oil bunkering from police custody.
Counsel to the IGP, Idris Mohammed, revealed this to Justice James Omotosho when the matter was called for the alleged oil bunkerers to take their plea in a five-count criminal charge filed against them.
The IGP had, in an earlier charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/60/2024, listed 19 alleged oil bunkerers for prosecution.
They include MT Harbor Spirit, Muhammad Malik Sidique, Joju Oil and Gas Ltd, Shittu Joseph, Enudi Kenneth Amechi, Jeremiah Oberhiri Nyohe, Abiodun Kolapo Joseph, Razaq Mahmud, Onwe Jonas Egana, Jeremiah Fezighe Gilbert as 1st to 10th defendants.
Also joined in the criminal charge dated and filed February.15 are Idon Simeon Amon, Adedeji Nathaniel Thomson, Effiong Ekpo Otu, Preye Moses Egbuson, Opoufoni Owei, Abiodun Razaq, Youngstar Amon, Collins Ebuka Eluche and Taiye Rashid Balogun as 11th to 19th defendants respectively.
However, the police, in an amended charge dated and filed February 28, brought criminal charges against only MT Harbor Spirit, a Vessel, Muhammad Malik Sidique and Joju Oil and Gas Ltd as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively.
In the amended charge, count one read that MT Harbor Spirit, Muhammad Malik Sidique, Joju Oil and Gas Ltd and the 4th to 19th defendants in the earlier charge (now at large) “on February 4, 2024, in the Deep Sea in Ogbogoro Oil Field, Brass Area of Bayelsa State, conspired” to tamper with oil pipeline for the transportation of crude oil.
The offence, according to the prosecution, is punishable under Section 1(7) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
In count two, the defendants and others now at large were alleged to have on February. 4 in the Deep Sea in Ogbogoro Oil Field, Brass Area of Bayelsa State, wilfully tampered with OML 59, Ogbogoro 001 Oil Field, operated by ELF for the transportation of crude oil.