Police officer arraigned for oil theft

The police officer allegedly vandalised an oil pipeline.

An Assistant Superintendent of Police, Dodo Bulus, on Tuesday was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before a Federal High Court in Abuja over oil theft.

Mr. Bulus was arraigned alongside 14 others: Joseph Amaechi, Israel Friday, Ubadia Francis, Abayomi Adebisi, Abdullahi Idris, Samuel Job, Onah Ode, Sabo TashaHassan, Abdullahi Moh’d, Abubakar Abdulkadir, Ehiogu Paul, Ibrahim Saidu, Garba Mohammed and Bartholomew Onyema. They were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiring to break crude oil pipeline and siphon product.

While the prosecuting counsel, Elizabeth Ayodele, asked the court to fix a date for trial and also remand the accused in prison, the defence counsel, Alex Akunebu prayed the court to admit his client to bail.

Mr. Akunebu said bail is to ensure that the accused person is available for trial. He said the accused police officer is ready to comply with the bail terms if so granted.

The lawyer, therefore, urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of his client.

Ms. Ayodele objected the defence plea on the ground that the offence committed by the accused person is an economic sabotage to the state which attracts life imprisonment if found guilty.

She said the accused person, being a Police Officer, knows the gravity of the offence he committed and may jump bail or interfere with the witnesses. She urged the court to refuse their application.

The presiding justice, E.S Chukwu, after hearing, adjourned the case to February 25 for ruling on the bail application. He ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison.