Three men, Yusuf Waheed 31, Rasheed Ajibade, 40 and a 32 year-old Omoh Okpeku, were today, remanded in the facility of Nigerian Correctional Services, for alleged vandalizing petroleum pipeline, by a Federal High Court, Lagos.
Justice Ayokunle Faji, ordered the remand of the three men, after their plea were taken on the charges of conspiracy, pipeline vandalism and unlawful dealing in petroleum products, leveled against the by the Office of IGP Special Task Force on Petroleum and illegal bunkering, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Arraigning the three defendants, the prosecutor, Mr. Kingsley Ngere, told the court that the defendants and others now at large, have on December 4, 2019, at Orile-Iganmu Bridge, Lagos, conspire amongst themselves and tamper with the Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) pipeline.
He also told the court that the defendants siphoned petroleum product from the vandalized pipeline and housed in 14 bags and loaded in white LT4 Volkswagen bus with Registration number AKM 220 ZT
They were also alleged to have engaged in the act of distributing, selling and offer for sale of the siphoned petroleum product illegally and without appropriate licence.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Ngere, contravened sections 3(6) and punishable under Section 1(7)(a) of the Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap M17, vol. 8 of the Revised Edition (laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2004.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The prosecutor, Mr. Ngere, told the court that with the defendants’ plea, the court should give a date for trial, while also asked the court to remand the defendants in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS), pending the determination of the charge.
Responding, counsel to the defendants, McAnthony Aikharialea, did not opposed the prosecutor’s request for trial date and remand of his clients.
He told the court that he has just been briefed and needed time to file their bail applications.
Following the request of the prosecutor which was not opposed by the defendants’ counsel, Justice Faji, ordered that all the defendants be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional services (NCS) and adjourned the matter till February 12 and 13, 2020, for the commencement of defendants’ trial.
Count one of the charges against the defendants read: “that you Yusuf Waheed ‘M’, Rasheed Ajibade ‘M’, Omoh Okpeku ‘M’ and others now at large on or about the 4th December, 2019 at Orile Iganmu bridge, Lagos within Lagos Judicial Division did aid, counsel, procure or conspire amongst yourselves to tamper with the Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) pipe or pipeline and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) and punishable under Section 1(7)(a) of the Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap M17, vol. 8 of the Revised Edition (laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2004.
The fourth count reads: “that you Yusuf Waheed ‘M’, Rasheed Ajibade ‘M’, Omoh Okpeku ‘M’ and others now at large on or about the 4th December, 2019 at about 0130hrs at Orile Iganmu bridge, Lagos within Lagos Judicial Division did sell, offer for sale, distribute or otherwise deal with or in petroleum or petroleum product without lawful authority or an appropriate licence, using white LT4 Volkswagen bus with Registration number AKM 220 ZT and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(1 7)(a) of the Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap M17, vol. 8 of the Revised Edition (laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2004”.
