Nine Foreign Nationals Sentenced To 20-Year Jail Terms For Crude Oil Offences In Lagos

by SAHARAREPORTERS

Five Filipinos and four Bangladeshis accused of crude oil offences in Nigeria were today sentenced by the Federal High Court in Lagos to 20 years imprisonment each, with fine options of N20million per person.

The court also ordered their vessel, MT Asteri, to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria, together with the crude oil on board.

The convicted Philippine nationals are: Axel Joseph Gibo Jabone, Juanito Camireno Infantado, Suarin Fernado Alave, Gatila Jaypee Gadayan and Rolando Jose Commendador; while the Bangladesh nationals are Md Zahirul Islam, Islam Shahinul, Islam Rafiqul and Shaikn Shibli Nomany.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had alleged that on or about March 27, 2015 in Lagos the nine men conspired to commit an offence involving dealing in 3423.097metric tons of crude oil without lawful authority or appropriate license, contrary to Section 1(19)(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17.

It was also alleged that the suspect on the same day and time, stored 3,423. 097 metric tons of crude oil in MT Asteris’ cargo tanks, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4 of the Petroleum Act of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

They all pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them, following which defence counsel Femi Adegbite applied for their bail, which was not opposed by the prosecution.

The trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, granted them bail in the sum of N50 million each, with one surety who must be a Nigerian, provide evidence of means, and deposit his passport with the registrar of the court.

Prosecuting Counsel Rotimi Oyedepo called seven witnesses and tendered many exhibits to prove his case, while the suspects testified for themselves in the rigorous trial.  .

Finding the suspects guilty, Justice Buba described the convicts as numbering among the saboteurs who have turned Nigeria into the laughing stock in the comity of Nations, warning that Nigerians and non-Nigerians must respect Nigeria and its laws.

He sentenced each convict to five years on each of the four counts, with an option of five million Naira fine on each of them.  While the sentences are to run concurrently, the option of five is not.

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Four Bangladeshi mariners arrested in Nigeria for theft of crude oil

We do not have any information of these individuals as to whether they were alumni of the Bangladesh Marine Academy and their professional background – Marine Engineering or Deck Officers.

Here are some email exchanges regarding this news.

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mohiuddin Abdul KAdir
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2015 5:52 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BDMariners] 5 years Imprisonment of four Bangladeshis seafarers in Nigeria.

Dear Anwar Bhai

Thanks for your mail. The vessel seems to be a Phantom Vessel. We made a search in equals database with the name MT Asteris (the name shown in court papers) but there is no vessel by that name. We made a search with the IMO number 8110655 provided which shows a different vessel by the mane of Golden Sunrise. The Golden Sunrise has no P&I or Class and it was called Asteris until 2013 when the name was changed to Golden Sunrise. It will not be simple or straightforward to assist these boys who may have  been sent to join a Phantom vessel on smuggling run.

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http://brideyonline.blogspot.com/2016/05/2016-sommarklanningar.html

Mohiuddin Abdul Kadir (18N)

On Wed, Dec 23, 2015 at 6:56 PM, A.T.M Anwarul Haqu wrote:

Dear All ,

A Nigerian Federal Court in Lagos on Tuesday gave four Bangladeshi sailors a choice between 5 years jail or paying a hefty fine after convicting them of oil smuggling.

The four convicts are Zahirul Islam, Islam Shahinul (27^th Deck), Islam Rafiqul and Shaikh Shibli Nomany.

The suspects were arrested in March in Lagos Lagoon aboard the MT Asteris, which prosecutors said was used to illegally store 3,423 tonnes of crude oil.
They were each convicted of four counts for illegally storing of crude oil.
Each count carries five years in prison but the sentences run concurrently, meaning the nine face a maximum of five years jail.

Alternatively each can pay a fine of 20 million naira ($100,000 dollars).

The government has taken ownership of the vessel.

Convictions for oil smuggling are common but in most cases the offenders get away with a fine .

In view of above, we advice Banglaeshi mariners to avoid any employment on vessel engaged in carriage of oil in Nigerian ports .

Brgds.
Capt. Anwar
Unicorn Shipping Services Ltd.

1. 

   Capt. M. INAM ILAHEE says:

   January 17, 2016 at 11:48 am

   It is Manning Agency’s responsibility to confirm that the vessel is not a phantom smuggling vessel.

   Manning Agency should be held liable in these cases, along with their Insurance coverages.