Justice Phoebe Ayua of the Federal High Court, Lokoja has sentenced Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim to 12 years in prison for crude oil theft.
The 22 year-old Ibrahim was arraigned by the state command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on offences ranging from conspiracy, stealing to dealing illegally in petroleum products.
Justice Ayua, who delivered the judgment, also ordered that 33,000 litres of crude oil and truck with registration number XA 900 XT be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Counsel for the NSCDC, Barrister E.S. Onu, while lauding the court for the judgment observed that it was a right step towards reducing illegal exploration of oil in Kogi State.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Command, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has reiterated its commitment to protecting national assets and infrastructure and checking pipeline vandalism and oil theft, among others.
A statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Abdullahi, said the command had prosecuted and convicted some offenders.