Navy Commends Conviction of Nine Crude Oil Thieves by Uyo Federal High Court
Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos and Linus Aleke in Abuja in Abuja Nigerian Navy has commended the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for the conviction and sentencing of
The Nigerian Navy has lauded the Uyo Federal High Court in Akwa Ibom State for convicting and sentencing nine individuals for crude oil theft, commending the decision as a major victory in combating economic sabotage. On September 14, the court handed down sentences of five years' imprisonment for Count One and 10 years' imprisonment for Count Two, without the option of a fine.
The convicts were apprehended by the Nigerian Navy on February 7 during an intelligence-led operation named Operation DELTA SENTINEL. The suspects were found stealing crude oil from an ASABO-D oil wellhead in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed the verdict in an official statement.
He emphasized the significance of effective cooperation between security agencies, prosecutors, and the judiciary in delivering justice for economic crimes. The Navy highlighted that the conviction is not just a judicial outcome but a testament to what can be achieved through operational action, effective prosecution, and judicial determination.
Since its launch in January 2026, Operation DELTA SENTINEL has thwarted over 241 illegal refining sites, disrupted criminal networks, recovered more than 6.44 million liters of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, and arrested more than 230 suspects. The Navy attributed its recent surge in operations to the strategic leadership of Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who prioritizes intelligence-led operations, inter-agency collaboration, and enhanced maritime domain awareness.
The Navy's efforts align with President Bola Tinubu's policy to boost Nigeria's crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027. The Navy reiterated the importance of converting successful maritime interdictions into timely convictions, as this reinforces the rule of law and deters future criminal networks. They also called on the judiciary to expedite the resolution of pending crude oil theft cases to strengthen deterrence and uphold accountability.
The Navy urged the public to report any suspicious activities related to crude oil theft, emphasizing that criminals cannot evade justice by exploiting remote oil-producing regions.
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