Two bag 20-year jail term for illegal oil bunkering

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday convicted and sentenced the duo of Wisdom Afangideh and Godwin John to 10 years imprisonment on each of the two count charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The jail terms are to run concurrently, a statement by EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said.

The convicts were however given an option of Three Million Naira (N3, 000 000.00) fine each. Also the truck and the product are to be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The convicts were prosecuted on charges bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum product.

Messrs. Wisdom and Godwin were arrested on June 8, 2012 by officials of State Security Service in Oku Iboku village in Ikat Adakpan Local Government of Akwa Ibom State with one DAF truck (registration number XQ 926 APP Lagos) with 33,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

They were subsequently, handed over to the EFCC on June 12, 2012 for further investigation and possible prosecution.

When they were arraigned on September 30, 2013, they pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Count one reads: “That you Wisdom Thomas Afangideh, Augustine Gabriel Ogbole and Godwin Ochefie John on or about the 10th June, 2012 at Oku Iboku along Ikat Adakpan Local Government of Akwa Ibom State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: illegal dealing in petroleum product and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) and punishable under Section 1(17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M 17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2012.”