Court sentences nine to 10 years imprisonment for oil theft in Akwa Ibom
The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo on Monday, September 14, 2026, convicted and sentenced nine persons to 10 years’ imprisonment for oil theft within Akwa Ibom territorial waters. The convicts were prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) in the state following their arrest and handover by the Nigerian Navy on February 7, […] Court sentences nine to 10 years imprisonment for oil…
On Monday, September 14, 2026, the Federal High Court in Uyo handed down sentences of up to ten years in prison to nine individuals for oil theft in Akwa Ibom territorial waters. The nine defendants were prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) after their arrest and surrender to the Nigerian Navy on February 7, 2025.
The arrests occurred while the suspects were siphoning crude oil from the ASABO-D oil wellhead in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Among the convicted are Michael Mebawondu, Owei Godspower Mitin, Godspromise Amigoe, and Opuowei Siarerebo. The presiding judge, Justice Joy Ikpeme, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt, thereby sentencing them to ten years in prison without the option of a fine.
Currently, more than twenty-one suspected oil thieves are in various stages of legal proceedings for the same offense in Akwa Ibom State.
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