From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Calabar, on Monday, 13 January 2025, convicted and sentenced Olufunsho Dayo Chevy and Uwem Udo Nya to various jail terms for oil theft, alongside a vessel, MT New Angel, and a company, Edi Eurolink Distribution.
They were prosecuted by the Uyo Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge of stealing and unlicensed dealing in petroleum products, according to the Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, on Thursday.
The charge read: “That you, MT New Angel, Edi Eurolink Distribution, Olufunsho Dayo Chevy, Uwem Udoh Nya, Olusaneku Patrick Victor (at large), Ezie Kenneth Othuke (at large), Imo Tammy Wisdom (at large), Ege Isaiah (at large), Obanla Sunday John (at large), Asuquo Okon Iwait (at large), Yoosu Alex Aonodue (at large), Nwaigwe Kingdom (at large), Ezechukwu Stanley Nnamdi (at large), sometime in June 2024, at Calabar within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without an appropriate licence issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency, did deal in petroleum product (crude oil) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13(2)(b)(i) of the Petroleum Act CAP P10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, and punishable under the same Section.”
The convicts pleaded guilty, upon which prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin reviewed the facts, presented evidence, and urged the court to convict and sentence them. Defence counsel Chris Okeadaka and Cyprian Afahanam requested leniency, noting their clients were first-time offenders.
Justice Ojukwu sentenced them to a fine of N20 million, translating to N5 million each, to be paid into the federal government’s account.
The convicts were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Victory, and handed over to the EFCC on 30 July 2024.
In a related development, the Uyo Directorate of the EFCC also secured the conviction of an internet fraudster, Shedrach Johnson (a.k.a Johnny Depp), on Thursday, 16 January 2025.
Justice Maurine Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Uyo, sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of identity theft, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretence.
The charge read: “That you, SHADRACH JOHNSON IDISI ‘M’ (a.k.a Johnny Depp, Jennifer Lopez), sometime in 2023 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently presented yourself as ‘Johnny Depp and Jennifer Lopez’ on the social media platform Facebook and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Amendment Act 2024, and punishable under Section 22(b)(iv) of the same Act.”
Prosecution counsel Khamis Mahmud presented evidence, including incriminating documents from Johnson’s mobile device, and urged the court to convict him. Defence counsel Samson Awuje requested lighter jail terms.
The judge imposed a fine of N100,000 and ordered the forfeiture of Johnson’s Tecno K.E.5 mobile phone, which is to be auctioned, with the proceeds deposited into the EFCC’s proceeds account.