The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has convicted and sentenced nine persons to an effective 10 years’ imprisonment each over conspiracy and tampering with an oil pipeline after they were arrested in a joint intelligence-led operation by the Nigerian Navy and the State Security Service (SSS).

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Joy Ikpeme found the nine defendants guilty on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and tampering with an oil pipeline, contrary to Section 1(7) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

The court sentenced each of the convicts to five years’ imprisonment on the first count and 10 years on the second count, without an option of fine.

Justice Ikpeme ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning each convict will serve an effective term of 10 years.

The nine were among 19 suspects arrested earlier in the year during a joint operation by the Nigerian Navy and the SSS following intelligence on alleged crude oil theft activities in Akwa Ibom State.

They were apprehended while stealing crude oil from an oil wellhead identified as ASABO-D in Ibeno Local Government Area of the state.

Following the arrests, the SSS prosecuted the defendants before the Federal High Court, culminating in Monday’s conviction of nine of them.

A security source described the judgment as another significant outcome in the continuing campaign against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in Nigeria’s oil-producing areas.

“The conviction marks another milestone in the Navy’s sustained campaign against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities along Nigeria’s maritime and riverine areas, which have continued to drain the nation’s oil revenue and damage the environment in host communities,” the source said.

Crude oil theft and illegal bunkering have remained major challenges in the Niger Delta, with security agencies intensifying operations against illegal connections, unauthorised oil-loading points and other activities targeting petroleum infrastructure.

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