No fewer than eight suspected oil thieves are being investigated by men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
This development was disclosed on Wednesday in a statement made available to the press by the spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale.
Oyewale, stated that the suspects were handed over to the EFCC by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Bonny Island, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
Quoting the Navy, the spokesperson said MV Cabrini and her eight crew members were arrested during an operation on November 8, 2023.
“They were arrested with an unquantified amount of illegally acquired Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, along Bonny Channel,’’ he said.
According to him, the suspects are Tyson Saidi, Emmanuel Memedo, Bamidele Owoeye, Sunday Okenwa, Sanusi Adeola, Kessen Friday, Miebaka Kienka and Emmanuel Adewole.
He explained that the Naval Hand-Over Officer, Lt.-Comm. G.Y. Gwaza, said the suspected oil thieves were handed over to EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.
In his response, the Chief Superintendent of the EFCC Itoro Levi, who received the suspects on behalf of the agency, assured that thorough and professional investigations would be carried out in the case.
In a separate development, a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kano on Wednesday ordered that an 18-year-old, Yusuf Haruna, be remanded in a correctional centre for allegedly stabbing an Imam, Sani Mohammed, 45, to death.
The defendant, who lives in Tudun Nufawa Quarters Kano, is charged with culpable homicide.
The Prosecutor, Mrs Fatima Ado-Ahmad, told the court that Musa Yunusa, of the same address, reported the matter at Jakara Police Division Kano on Dec. 31, 2023.
She alleged that at about 7:00 pm, the defendant attacked and stabbed the 45-year-old Imam with a sharp knife in his back, leading to his death.
“As a result the victim sustained deep injury and was rushed to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital,where he was confirmed dead by a Doctor.”
The defendant denied committing the offence.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 221 of the Penal Code.
Chief Magistrate Binta Ibrahim-Galadanchi ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.
She adjourned the matter until Jan. 31 for further mention.
In a related development, Yusuf’s father, Haruna Sani, was arraigned before the Chief Magistrates’ Court for hiding his son over the alleged murder.
The defendant, who lives at Tudun Nufawa Quarters Kano, is standing trial on a count charge of screening of offender, contrary to Section 167 of the Penal Code.
The Prosecution Counsel, Ado-Ahmad, alleged that on Dec. 31, 2023 the defendant allegedly hid his son after he stabbed the Imam to death.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor opposed the bail application made by the defence counsel.
Responding, the defence counsel, Ahmad Rufa’i holding brief for Mr Rabiu Sidi, urged the court to grant the defendant bail pursuant to sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 168 of ACJL 2019, Kano State.
Chief Magistrate Binta Ibrahim-Galadanchi ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.
Ibrahim-Galadanchi adjourned the matter until Jan.31, for ruling on bail application.