The convicts are one Michael Okezie and Edeh Ifeanyi, both aged 24 years.
A Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State has convicted and sentenced two oil pipeline vandals and oil thieves to three years imprisonment without option of fine.
The convicts are one Michael Okezie and Edeh Ifeanyi, both aged 24 years.
The duo were reportedly arrested by operatives of the Operatives of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Enugu Command on May 25, 2020 at Kilometre 197, Agbani in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the State, while tampering with NNPC transportation pipeline with a view to oil theft.
A statement by the NSCDC State Public Relations Officer, CSC Denny Manuel, made available to SaharaReporters on Wednesday, said the suspects were subsequently, charged to court for committing an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, LFN, 2004 and punishable under Section 1 (7) (b) of the same Act.
According to the statement they were arraigned on three count charge bordering on stealing and vandalisation before Justice I. N Buba of the Federal High Court 1, Enugu the same month.
Delivering judgment on the matter, penultimate Friday, Justice Buba found them guilty as charged and were accordingly convicted and sentenced to three (3) years imprisonment in each of the three counts without option of fine.
The court also ruled that the petroleum products, exhibits and items recovered from them shall be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, two other suspects identified as Onu Chekwube (28) and Okeke Okwudiri (18) were said to have been arrested on October 10 at about 3pm in Aruokwe Village, Oduma in the Aninri Local Government Area of the state while dismantling rail line installations.
Parading the suspects on Tuesday, at Enugu State Command of NSCDC, the Commandant, Aloysius Obiorah, begged residents to intensify their efforts in assisting security agencies with vital information on the activities of criminals and other social misfits that are making life difficult for the people in the State.
While he emphasised that the role of the civil populace in crime fighting could not be over-emphasised, Obiorah maintained that community-based intelligence remained “a sine qua non” for crime reduction.
He explained that the suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Command in collaboration with Hunters and Forest Security Services of the state while they were vandalising rail materials belonging to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).
Items recovered from the suspects according to the commandant include: "77 Rail line bolts and nuts already dismantled and ready for evacuation, one Iron pipe, one digger, one Matchete, one Rig spanner, two Empty hydraulic fluid containers, one Flat spanner, two full containers of hydraulic fluid.