A gang of five suspects with others at large were on Friday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged pipeline vandalism and about N3.2 million oil theft.
The five suspects, arraigned before Justice Okon Abang, were charged with four counts bordering on conspiracy, pipeline vandalism, oil theft and unlawful dealing in petroleum products.
The prosecution alleged that the accused, all male, vandalised oil pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and stole about 33,000 litres of premium methylated spirit valued at about N3.2 million.
According to their prosecutor, Mr. Daniel Apochi, the five suspects, conspired and committed the offences around Epe/Ikorodu on July 13, 2014.
Apochi argued that the accused, by their acts, violated Sections 516 and 390 of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation Of Nigeria, 2004 as well as Sections 7(a) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The charge sheet that Apochi brought before the court revealed the names of the accused persons as Yama Abass, Adeleke Adetoro, Alabi Olayinka, Olaniyi Tope and Beliya Abegunge.
The five however pleaded not guilty to all the four counts.
Before adjourning their trial till Sepember 2, 2014, Justice Abang ordered that the accused persons should be remanded at the Ikoyi prison.
The judge also said the court would be willing to entertain bail application for the accused persons on the adjourned date.
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