Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Calabar, on Monday, January 13, 2025, convicted and sentenced oil thieves 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.
The Uyo Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, prosecuted them on a one-count charge that bordered on theft and unlicensed dealing in petroleum products.
The charges against the oil thieves 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 license issued by 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 Pi0, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and punishable under the same Section.”
The convicts pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them, upon which prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin reviewed the facts of the case, advanced evidence and urged the court to convict and sentence them as charged, while defence counsel, Chris Okeadaka and Cyprian Afahanam prayed the court to temper justice with mercy arguing that their clients were first-time offenders.
Justice Ojukwu sentenced them to pay a fine of N20 million (Twenty Million Naira), or N5 million (Five Million Naira) each, into the federal government’s account.
Chronicle NG reports that on July 30, 2024, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory, arrested the convicts and turned them over to the EFCC.
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, the Uyo Directorate of the EFCC successfully secured the conviction and sentence of an internet fraudster, Shedrach Johnson, also known as Johnny Depp, for offences related to internet fraud.
Justice Maurine Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Uyo, convicted and sentenced him to three months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a one-count charge bordering on identity theft, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretense.
A single count of the charge says, “That you, SHADRACH JOHNSON IDISI “M” (aka Johnny Depp, Jennifer Lopez), fraudulently presented yourself as “Johnny Depp and Jennifer Lopez on the social media platform (Facebook) with the intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, 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.”
Reviewing the facts of the matter, prosecution counsel Khamis Mahmud told the court that the convict was arrested on November 23, 2024, along Ikot Akpaden in the Mkpat Enon Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He tendered several incriminating documents printed out from his mobile device as exhibits.
Thereafter, Mahmud urged the court to convict the defendant as charged. In response, the defence counsel, Samson Awuje, prayed the court for lighter jail terms for his client.
However, the judge gave the convict an option of a fine of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) and ordered the forfeiture of his Techno K.E.5 mobile phone. He also mandated the auction of the phone and the deposit of the proceeds into the EFCC’s account.
Johnson was arrested for internet fraud, prosecuted, and convicted.
